The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has officially announced its disbandment, ending its 40-year armed insurgency against Turkey. This historic decision, made during a congress held in early May 2025, follows a call from the group's imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan. Öcalan, who has been incarcerated since 1999, emphasised the need to transition from armed conflict to political engagement, a sentiment echoed by the PKK's leadership.
The PKK had previously declared a ceasefire in March 2025, beginning the process of disbandment and committing to stop all offensive actions unless provoked. This move was welcomed by the Turkish government. However, officials emphasised the need for all PKK-affiliated groups to lay down arms, including those active in Syria such as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the People's Defence Units (YPG).
What is the PKK?
The PKK is a Kurdish militant and political organisation founded in 1978 by Öcalan. Originally it was formed to seek an independent Kurdish state. Over time, though, the PKK evolved its goals towards pushing for greater Kurdish autonomy and cultural rights within Turkey.
The actions of the group, including guerilla warfare, bombings, attacks, kidnappings and assassinations, have resulted in an estimate of over 40,000 deaths since their establishment. The group has been designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the UK, the US and the EU.The Turkish government has previously responded by conducting counterinsurgency operations in Kurdish regions.
Both the PKK and the Turkish government have been accused of human rights violations in the course of the conflict, including forced displacements, torture and civilian deaths.
What are the likely challenges of the disbandment?
Despite the PKK's commitment to disarmament, challenges remain. The Turkish government has not yet provided a clear legal framework to facilitate the group's dissolution, and military operations against Kurdish groups continue in regions like Northern Iraq and Syria. These ongoing actions have raised concerns about the sincerity of Turkey's commitment to the peace process and the potential for the PKK's radical factions to disrupt the fragile peace.
Furthermore, this announcement is not the first time the PKK and Kurds in Turkey have attempted to reach a peace deal, meaning that the announcements have been met with cautious optimism. Efforts between 2009 and 2015 ultimately failed, resulting in renewed conflict.
Unlike the 2010 peace talks, however, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not taken a leading role in the latest efforts, and has offered conditional support for peace talks, warning that failure would mean the “elimination” of PKK militants.
What are the possible outcomes?
The disbandment of the PKK will almost certainly have significant political, social, and security consequences both for Turkey and the broader Kurdish region in the Middle East.
There are several plausible scenarios if the disbandment remained permanent. The most obvious positive outcome will be the immediate reduction in armed violence, a reduction in the number of causalities, and a reduced security burden for the Turkish state. If the PKK’s goals are met, this may also mean increased representation for the Kurdish people, greater legitimacy for Kurdish political parties and subsequently the resolution of Kurdish grievances, such as improved cultural rights and autonomy.
On the other hand, there are fears that the disbandment could cause the fragmentation of Kurdish political and militant factions, potentially opening the door for other Kurdish groups outside of Turkey, such as in Iraq, Syria and Iran, to fill the gap. It may also allow for the emergence of other radical and armed groups, as well as the weakening of the Kurdish movement, which has historically been unified by the PKK. This may precipitate other alliances or conflicts.
Ultimately, the announcement represents hope for achieving a lasting peace between Turkey and its Kurdish population, provided that Kurdish grievances are addressed through peaceful means. This will require cooperation between the Turkish government and the Kurdish political factions. The road to resolution will not be simple, with impacts that will spread outside of Turkey’s borders. Careful navigation of these complex issues will be required to ensure lasting peace.