The conflict between the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Turkish state has been a long-standing issue that has seen numerous cycles of violence and attempts at peace over the past four decades. Originating in 1978, the PKK was formed by Abdullah Öcalan and other Marxist-Leninist students with the aim of establishing Kurdish autonomy through armed struggle. This insurgency escalated after the 1980 Turkish military coup, leading to clashes that spiraled into a conflict resembling civil war conditions, particularly affecting the Kurdish-dominated southeastern regions of Turkey.
Throughout the years, there have been several noteworthy phases in this conflict. In 1999, Öcalan’s arrest was a significant turning point, leading to his imprisonment in Turkey after being captured in Kenya. Despite being sentenced to death, his penalty was later commuted to life imprisonment following Turkey's abolition of the death penalty.
Efforts to reach a peace settlement saw a fragile ceasefire between 2013 and 2015, initiated through negotiations involving Öcalan and the Turkish government. However, this truce was short-lived as violence resumed following a deadly attack in 2015. The subsequent years saw intensified military offensives by Turkey and retaliatory actions by the PKK.
In recent developments, the PKK has initiated a disarmament process, marking a potential end to its armed campaign. This move, symbolized by a ceremonial burning of weapons in northern Iraq, has been welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a new chapter for Turkey. The disarmament could pave the way for broader regional changes, yet it also highlights ongoing demands from Kurdish groups for greater rights and reforms within Turkey's Kurdish-majority areas. Despite the optimism surrounding this symbolic gesture, the legacy of the conflict, which has claimed over 40,000 lives, continues to cast a long shadow.
