Kurdish militant group PKK to disband, ending 40 years of bloody conflict with Turkiye
Kurdish militant group PKK to disband, ending 40 years of bloody conflict with Turkiye
Over 40,000 people have been killed since they were founded in 1984
Over 40,000 people have been killed since they were founded in 1984
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced on Sunday that they have committed to disband as part of a new peace initiative with Turkiye.
The decision comes after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan urged his group to formally decide to disarm themselves back in February, according to a report by the Associated Press.
According to a statement written by the Firat News Agency, the PKK ended their “armed struggle” as a means to begin “paving the way for Kurdish freedom” with “new strategies and organizations.”
The PKK originally started out with the hopes of carving an independent Kurdish state out of Kurdish-majority areas in Turkiye, Syria and Iraq.
Over the years, this has shifted into gaining more rights and autonomy for Kurds living in Turkey, who currently make up around 18% of Turkiye’s population.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a longtime adversary of Kurdish militant groups, aspires for similar declarations from both PKK-affiliated groups in these regions, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) in Iraq.
“We find this decision important for the consolidation of our country’s security, our region’s peace, and our nation’s eternal brotherhood,” Erdogan said in a statement on Monday.
Turkey currently occupies northern Syria and northern Iraq, claiming they need to combat Kurdish militant influence. After the PKK’s disbandment, Turkey might consider scaling back their military presence in both countries, but President Erdogan has not said anything concerning this so far.
On Feb. 4, Erdogan said that he spoke with Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, stating that Turkiye was ready to “provide the necessary support to Syria in the fight against all forms of terrorism, be it Daesh or PKK.”
Al-Sharaa reciprocated this, saying that he is working on “building a strategic partnership with Turkiye.”
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced on Sunday that they have committed to disband as part of a new peace initiative with Turkiye.
The decision comes after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan urged his group to formally decide to disarm themselves back in February, according to a report by the Associated Press.
According to a statement written by the Firat News Agency, the PKK ended their “armed struggle” as a means to begin “paving the way for Kurdish freedom” with “new strategies and organizations.”
The PKK originally started out with the hopes of carving an independent Kurdish state out of Kurdish-majority areas in Turkiye, Syria and Iraq.
Over the years, this has shifted into gaining more rights and autonomy for Kurds living in Turkey, who currently make up around 18% of Turkiye’s population.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a longtime adversary of Kurdish militant groups, aspires for similar declarations from both PKK-affiliated groups in these regions, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) in Iraq.
“We find this decision important for the consolidation of our country’s security, our region’s peace, and our nation’s eternal brotherhood,” Erdogan said in a statement on Monday.
Turkey currently occupies northern Syria and northern Iraq, claiming they need to combat Kurdish militant influence. After the PKK’s disbandment, Turkey might consider scaling back their military presence in both countries, but President Erdogan has not said anything concerning this so far.
On Feb. 4, Erdogan said that he spoke with Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, stating that Turkiye was ready to “provide the necessary support to Syria in the fight against all forms of terrorism, be it Daesh or PKK.”
Al-Sharaa reciprocated this, saying that he is working on “building a strategic partnership with Turkiye.”
Be the first to know.
Our Newsletter drops soon — don't miss out.
Be the first to know.
Our Newsletter drops soon — don't miss out.
Be the first to know.
Our Newsletter drops soon
— don't miss out.
Be the first to know.
Our Newsletter drops soon — don't miss out.