Turkey, PKK announces decision to disband

On Monday, May 12, members and leaders of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) formally announced their disbandment and the end of all activities conducted under their name. It follows the historic leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, calling for the organisation’s disarmament and disbandment on February 27. A PKK official confirmed the decision, stating that the handover of weapons depends on the Turkish government’s response to Kurdish rights and the fate of their fighters and leaders. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan praised the decision as an important step towards strengthening politics, democracy, regional security, and stability. He added that it constituted a significant milestone on the road to securing the nation against the threat of terrorism. The PKK’s strategic shift in focus could potentially contribute to the enhancement of political and economic stability in NATO member Turkey. Furthermore, it may encourage measures to reduce tensions in neighbouring regions, such as Iraq and Syria. However, no details have been provided yet on how the PKK’s disarmament and dissolution would be implemented in practice.