Kurdish militants PKK declare ceasefire in 40-year conflict with Türkiye after leader's prison cell plea

Kurdish militants, who have waged a 40-year insurgency in Turkey, have announced a ceasefire. This comes two days after their imprisoned leader called on the group to disarm, signaling a potential turning point in the long-standing conflict.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) released a statement through the pro-PKK Firat news agency. The statement quoted Abdullah Öcalan, who has been imprisoned in Turkey since 1999, as saying, "We are announcing a ceasefire starting today to pave the way for the call for peace and a democratic society under the leadership of Apo." They added, "Unless attacked, none of our forces will carry out armed action," indicating a conditional commitment to the cessation of hostilities.

The group stated that it hopes Ankara will release Öcalan so that he can lead the disarmament process, adding that the necessary political and democratic conditions need to be created for the agreement to succeed. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK since 1984 has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, underscoring the urgency for a lasting resolution.

On Thursday, Öcalan sent a message from his prison on an island near Istanbul. "Convene your congress and make a decision. All groups must lay down their arms, and the PKK must dissolve," he said. Politicians from a pro-Kurdish party who had visited him earlier that day read the message in Kurdish and Turkish, highlighting the message's importance to both communities.

Devlet Bahceli, the ruling coalition partner of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, initiated new peace efforts in October. The far-right politician stated that Öcalan could be granted parole if his organization renounces violence and disbands. Despite being imprisoned, Öcalan still wields significant influence over the PKK. Analysts suggest that the group's leadership would heed any call from Öcalan, although some factions within the organization may resist peace efforts, presenting potential challenges to the process.

In the city of Qamishli, people danced in the streets, waving flags bearing Öcalan's portrait as well as Kurdish flags. Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), posted on X: "We welcome the historic statement of leader Abdullah Öcalan calling for an end to the war and opening the way for a peaceful political process. This historic statement is an opportunity to build peace and a key to establishing correct and constructive relations in the region," reflecting the broader regional implications of this development.