Kurdish Militants PKK Announce Historic Decision to Disband

ANKARA, Turkey — The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has announced a groundbreaking decision to disband and disarm as part of a new peace initiative with Turkey, following decades of armed conflict. The historic decision was made public by the Firat News Agency, which is closely associated with the group.

This announcement comes shortly after the PKK convened a significant party congress in northern Iraq, held from May 5-7, where pivotal decisions were made regarding the future of the group. Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, advocated for this congress and called on his followers to officially disband.

Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999, emphasized during the congress that it was essential for the PKK to transition to a peace process that honors democratic politics. The group is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey and most Western nations.

Previously, a ceasefire was announced by the PKK in March, accompanied by conditions for peace negotiations, which included the establishment of a legal framework for discussions. Following Ocalan’s call, the congress concluded that the PKK’s struggle has brought the Kurdish issue closer to resolution through democratic means.

Firat News Agency reported that the PKK’s organizational structure will be dissolved, and Ocalan will oversee the implementation of this disbandment. The congress recognized that the PKK has completed its historical mission and formally terminated activities under its name.

This development marks a critical moment in the ongoing peace efforts between Turkey and the PKK, which has engaged in an armed insurgency since 1984. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of individuals over the past four decades.