The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged an armed insurgency against the Turkish state for over 40 years, has officially announced its dissolution and the end of its militant operations, according to a media outlet aligned with the group.
This historic move is expected to significantly impact the political and security dynamics of the broader region, including neighboring Syria, where Kurdish forces maintain alliances with U.S. military personnel.
The Firat news agency published what it described as the final declaration from the PKK’s 12th Congress, recently held in northern Iraq. The congress was convened in response to a February appeal from imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who called for the group to stand down.
“The 12th PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK’s organizational structure and cease armed resistance,” the statement read.
There has been no immediate response from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration or the foreign ministry regarding the announcement.
Since the PKK launched its insurgency in 1984, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 people. The organization is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.
