Skip to main content

PKK Announces End of Armed Struggle, Dissolution of Organizational Structure

12th Congress Declares Historic Shift Toward Democratic Politics

In a landmark decision marking a turning point in the decades-long Kurdish conflict, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an illegal entity in Turkey and several countries, has formally announced the end of its armed struggle and the dissolution of its organizational structure. The historic move was declared during the PKK's 12th Congress, held under challenging conditions between May 5–7, which concluded with a series of resolutions signaling a strategic shift toward democratic politics and peaceful resistance.

The declaration, released by the PKK Congress Presidium, stated that the organization's historical mission—founded in 1978 to resist what it described as Turkey's policies of denial and assimilation against the Kurdish people—has now been fulfilled. According to the statement, the Kurdish question has become a central political issue within Turkish society, making continued armed struggle unnecessary. As a result, the PKK decided to terminate all activities conducted under its name, redirecting efforts toward grassroots democratic mobilization and civil society engagement. This new phase will see the PKK engaging in political advocacy, community organizing, and civil rights activism, among other activities, to promote its vision of a democratic, ecological, and gender-liberated society.

Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned founder of the PKK who has long advocated for a peaceful resolution, will oversee the implementation of this new phase. His strategic vision, outlined in a February 27 announcement, was the ideological foundation for the Congress's decisions. Despite ongoing military operations, aerial and ground attacks, and blockades on Kurdish regions, the Congress was successfully held across two locations, with the participation of 232 delegates.

The statement traced the PKK's evolution from a Marxist-Leninist insurgency to a movement advocating for a democratic, ecological, and gender-liberated society. It highlighted key historical junctures, including the 1993 ceasefire attempt under President Turgut Özal, which collapsed due to state violence and entrenched nationalist opposition. The Congress reaffirmed Öcalan's call for a 'Democratic Republic of Turkey' based on equal citizenship and coexistence between Kurds and Turks, rooted in a reimagined framework of national identity. This vision entails a Turkey where all citizens, regardless of their ethnic or cultural background, have equal rights and opportunities, and where the Kurdish identity is respected and celebrated as an integral part of the nation.

A significant part of the declaration focused on reshaping Kurdish-Turkish relations in light of regional and global dynamics, particularly amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The PKK expressed confidence that the Kurdish public, who endured decades of displacement, imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings, would understand and support this transition. It urged Kurdish political parties, civil society organizations, and intellectuals to take responsibility in advancing the process of democratic nation-building.

Additionally, the Congress honored two prominent fallen leaders: Ali Haydar Kaytan, killed in 2018 and symbolizing loyalty and sacred life, and Rıza Altun, killed in 2019 and representing comradeship and freedom. Their sacrifices were commemorated as emblematic of the broader struggle for Kurdish rights.

The PKK invited all sectors of Turkish society—including political parties, civil institutions, trade unions, women's groups, and international actors—to engage constructively in the peace process. It called for legal guarantees, political recognition, and societal solidarity to ensure a lasting democratic settlement. This invitation is a clear demonstration of the PKK's commitment to a peaceful resolution and its belief in the importance of broad societal participation in the peace process.

This strategic shift represents a major ideological and operational transformation for the PKK, signaling a move away from militarism toward a civilian-based democratic movement. Whether this decision translates into tangible political progress remains to be seen, but it undeniably opens a new chapter in the quest for peace in Turkey's Kurdish conflict.

Photo: ANF

Popular posts from this blog

Sovereignty as Spectacle: Turkish Cypriot Researcher Critiques Grand Opening of the Northern Cyprus New "Republican Campus"

On Saturday, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is not recognized internationally, officially launched its new "Republican Campus." The first construction phase features the new Presidential Building and Parliament Building, inaugurated during a grand ceremony attended by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Dubbed by critics as a "show of sovereignty," the event, alongside the concurrent Teknofest technology festival, has drawn criticism from Turkish Cypriot researcher-writer Mete Hatay for its political undertones and symbolic messaging. Hatay, a noted peace researcher affiliated with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), argues that the openings were not merely about inaugurating buildings but about constructing symbols of dominance under the guise of sovereignty. Hatay describes the events as meticulously staged platforms for political agendas. "Today in Northern Cyprus, it wasn't just buildings that were opened; symbols w...

Cyprus Archbishop's Easter Message Lost in Translation, Sparking Controversy

A mistranslation of Cyprus' Orthodox Archbishop Georgios' Easter message has ignited a new wave of tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on the divided island. Turkish Cypriot media outlets reported that the Archbishop called for "expelling the Turks and saving the homeland," prompting swift condemnation from Turkish Cypriot political figures, including opposition leader Tufan Erhürman. According to Kıbrıs Postası 's bulletin published on April 20, 2025, Archbishop Georgios issued an Easter message urging "Greece, Southern Cyprus, and all Hellenism to make a coordinated effort to expel the Turks and save the homeland." The report further claimed the Archbishop stated there was "no possibility of making any more concessions" in the current situation. In response, Tufan Erhürman , leader of the social democrat Republican Turkish Party (CTP), issued a strongly-worded statement criticizing what he called "discriminatory and pr...

Is Turkey's New Rising Political Star's Future in Danger?

In a development that could dramatically alter Turkey's political landscape, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's presidential ambitions face a serious challenge as pro-government sources report his university diploma may soon be invalidated. According to prominent pro-government journalist Abdulkadir Selvi, Istanbul University is expected to complete a report today that could lead to the cancellation of Imamoglu's diploma, effectively disqualifying him from running for president of Turkey. Critical Findings in University Investigation The investigation centers around allegations that Imamoglu's lateral transfer from American University of Kyrenia to Istanbul University violated educational regulations. The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) has already issued a report claiming that American University of Kyrenia was not recognized by YÖK at the time Imamoglu made his transfer. "Istanbul University's investigation has been completed, and the...