The PKK announces dissolution, what's next?

On 12 May, the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), classified by Türkiye as a terrorist organization, announced its dissolution and the end of armed struggle against the Turkish government. This announcement came as a result of mediation efforts started by the Turkish nationalist party MHP’s leader Devlet Bahçeli back in October 2024. The imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan called for disarmament late-February. The announcement and the seeming accord found between the organization and the Turkish government leads to questions about the future relations between the two groups and notably those on whether Öcalan’s and other terror-related imprisonments are to continue and whether there will be new steps addressing Kurdish language rights.

DEM Party with Öcalan in İmralı, DEMGENELMERKEZ (on X)

Following the Extraordinary 12th Congress of the PKK, the organization concluded that it had “fulfilled its historical mission” and that “the Kurdish issue” had been brought “to a point, where it [could] be resolved through democratic politics,” adding that “all activities conducted under the PKK name [had] therefore been concluded.” This last addition has raised doubt on the continuation of the activities of the PYD/YPG in Syria and northern Iraq, to which Turkish president Erdoğan said they “considered the decision as encompassing all branches of the organisation.” The announcement reads as a victory statement by the PKK, many have pointed out. It also evokes the Treaty of Lausanne and the 1924 Constitution when talking about a new framework for future relations based on a “Common Homeland” and “Equal Citizenship.” Journalist Taha Akyol (in his interview with BBC Turkish) warned against the possibility of the emergence of Pan-Kurdism, some others have commented that the reference to the 1924 Constitution echoes the talks about a new constitution based on the one of 1921. The following days will surely see discussions on a possible new constitution.

According to ODATV, the National Intelligence Organization will be tasked with keeping records of the weapons surrendered, with special points set in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq. None will be set in Türkiye as there are fewer terrorists dispersed across the region. The surrender of terrorists will be after the weapon surrender. Afterwards, a five-year transition period is planned where the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will continue their presence in Northern Iraq.

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) has highlighted the importance of transparency during the negotiations and evoked worries of the development being instrumentalized for votes by the AKP and MHP. As the leading party after the regional elections, they want to be informed on the proceedings in order to also take action towards a peaceful future. They demand that the trustee system be abolished and the mayors returned to their posts. They also demand the implementation of the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights’ decisions on the release of Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş and Can Atalay. They also protest the mention of the Treaty of Lausanne, saying the country’s founding document is not up for discussion.

Edited by: Derya Selin Yener and Yağmur Ece Nisanoğlu