Kurdistan Workers’ Party Announces Self-Dissolution, Signaling End of 40-Year Conflict with Turkey

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and several other nations, has announced its self-dissolution and the cessation of its armed conflict with Ankara. This resolution, reported by the Kurdish news agency Rudaw, is part of an official statement issued by the PKK on March 1, 2025, marking a potential end to one of the longest-running conflicts in the region—a struggle that has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands.

The decision to disband was influenced by a call from PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been incarcerated on Turkey’s Imrali Island since 1999. In February 2025, Ocalan’s message was conveyed through representatives of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), urging the organization to lay down its arms and embrace peace. He stated that the PKK had “fulfilled its historical role” and should now support ongoing peace initiatives. Ocalan’s appeal for an alliance between Turks and Kurds was met with a positive response from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who described it as a “new phase” in fostering peaceful coexistence.

Founded in 1978 with aspirations for an independent Kurdistan, the PKK shifted its focus in the 1990s towards advocating for autonomy and cultural rights for Kurds within Turkey. The conflict, which ignited in 1984, has resulted in over 40,000 deaths, predominantly among Kurdish civilians, according to Human Rights Watch. Throughout its tumultuous history, the PKK has declared multiple ceasefires; however, the last significant truce in 2013 unraveled following violent incidents in 2015.

Analysts suggest that the PKK’s dissolution may be linked to evolving regional dynamics, particularly following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the diminishing influence of the PKK in Iraq. This historic announcement signals a potential shift towards reconciliation and peace in a region long characterized by strife and division.