ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi on Monday lauded the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) decision to disband and follow their leader Abdullah Ocalan’s call for a democratic process.

The PKK on Monday published the results of its recent seminal congress, announcing that the group has decided to dissolve and disband, ending an insurgency that spanned over four decades, after months of negotiations.

“The PKK's decisions to dissolve its organizational structure, end the armed struggle method, and start a democratic political process, upon the call of Leader Ocalan, are worthy of respect,” Abdi wrote in a post on X.

The SDF chief hailed the PKK’s “historic and key role in the Middle East in the past,” noting that they believe “this new step will pave the way for a new political and peaceful process in the region,” while hoping “that all relevant parties will take the necessary steps and all friends will provide the necessary support.”

The PKK – an armed group long designated a terrorist organization by Ankara and its western allies – has fought for increased Kurdish rights in Turkey for decades predominantly engaging in armed struggle with Turkish forces from the mountainous borders of the Kurdish Region, Iraq, and Syria.

Turkey considers the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the SDF, to be inextricably linked to the PKK and thereby sees the SDF as an extension of their now-disbanded domestic foe.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday described the PKK’s self-dissolution as “important” for the security of Turkey and the region, adding they expect this decision to cover all of the group’s “extensions”, especially in “northern Iraq [Kurdistan Region], Syria, and Europe.”

In addition to Abdi, the PKK announcement also prompted reactions from other officials in Syria. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani congratulated Turkey on the PKK’s decision to end armed struggle against Ankara, stressing that the decision “will enhance stability in Turkey and the region as a whole.”

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Abdi signed an agreement in March to officially integrate the SDF and all other institutions in northeast Syria into the Syrian state institutions.

Shaibani said that their agreement with the SDF “is part of the Syrian government's approach to resolving all problems through dialogue in a way that serves the national interest,” reiterating Damascus’ commitment to the pact while expressing hope for the SDF’s adherence to the agreement as well.