The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a militant group that has waged a bloody insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, has decided to disband and end its armed campaign, according to a statement published on Monday by Firat news agency, which is closely aligned with the group.
The announcement marks a potentially transformative moment for Turkey and the wider region, including parts of Iraq and Syria where Kurdish forces have played key roles—especially in Syria, where they have cooperated with US forces.
The PKK’s armed conflict with Turkey has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths over the past four decades. The group is officially designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.
According to the statement, the PKK made the decision to dissolve during its 12th Congress held last week in northern Iraq, where it maintains a stronghold. The move followed a February call from the group’s jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan—widely known by his nickname “Apo”—urging the PKK to disband.
“The PKK 12th Congress decided to dissolve the PKK’s organizational structure, with the practical process to be managed and carried out by Leader Apo, and to end the armed struggle method,” the declaration stated.
“The PKK has completed its historic mission,” the group said, adding that its decades-long struggle had “broken the policy of denial and annihilation of our people” and had brought the Kurdish issue to a stage where it could be resolved through democratic means.
The development may offer President Tayyip Erdogan a renewed chance to invest in and stabilise Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast, where the insurgency has long undermined economic growth and security.
Omer Celik, spokesperson for Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, welcomed the move, calling it “an important step toward a terror-free Turkey.”
Turkey’s foreign ministry has yet to issue an official response, although the decision had been anticipated by Ankara.
Markets reacted modestly to the news, with the Turkish lira steady at 38.7375 against the dollar and the main share index climbing 2.4%.
While previous peace efforts have failed—including a 2013–2015 ceasefire that ultimately collapsed—this latest move by the PKK signals a dramatic shift in one of the region’s longest-running conflicts.
