Kurdish group PKK announces ceasefire with Turkey
What's the story
The Kurdistan Workers's Party (PKK), a banned Kurdish group, announced a ceasefire with Turkey on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
The declaration comes after their imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan called on the group to disarm.
The PKK has been waging an insurgency since 1984, demanding a homeland for Kurds in Turkey.
Kurds make up about 20% of Turkey's 85 million population.
Statement release
PKK's statement on ceasefire published by ANF
The PKK's ceasefire declaration was released by the pro-PKK ANF news agency.
The statement said, "In order to pave the way for the implementation of leader Apo's call for peace and democratic society, we are declaring a ceasefire effective from today."
The group also clarified that their forces would refrain from armed action unless provoked or attacked.
Peace talks
Ocalan's appeal marks significant shift in conflict
PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan has been in prison since 1999. His latest appeal for peace marks a significant turnaround after decades of conflict that has killed over 40,000 people.
The last peace talks between PKK and Ankara fell apart in 2015. However, recent meetings between Kurdish politicians and Ocalan at his island prison have paved the way for this new development.
Call for release
PKK calls for Ocalan's release and democratic politics
The PKK viewed Ocalan's statement as the start of "a new historical process in Kurdistan and the Middle East."
The group stressed that "democratic politics and legal grounds must also be suitable for success."
They also called for Ocalan's release from Imrali prison to "personally direct and execute" a party congress aimed at disbanding the militants.
Political pressure
Increased pressure on pro-Kurdish political party in Turkey
The ceasefire announcement comes amid increased pressure on Turkey's main pro-Kurdish political party.
Several of its mayors have recently been ousted and replaced with government appointees.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has supported rapprochement efforts but has simultaneously increased pressure on opposition figures, resulting in the arrest of several politicians, activists, and journalists.