Turkish Lawmakers Mandate Dissolution and Disarmament of PKK

Turkish lawmakers passed legislation on August 10, 2026, mandating the total dissolution and disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The law, approved by 468 of 562 present members of parliament, creates a de-facto peace accord to conclude an insurgency that has lasted four decades and cost Turkey an estimated $2 trillion and tens of thousands of lives.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, sought the resolution to bolster his credentials ahead of the 2028 elections. The legislation builds on a ceasefire established over a year prior and includes amnesty provisions for certain former militants. While the law is a significant step toward stability, some opposition parties have condemned the move, arguing it is an affront to fallen soldiers and warning that reintegrating militants could spark social unrest.

The impact of the law on the release of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan remains uncertain. However, Turkey's main Kurdish political party indicated that Ocalan approves of the legislation, following previous suggestions from ultranationalist ally Devlet Bahçeli that Ocalan should be released if he urged the PKK to disband.