The 23rd General Congress of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) commenced on Friday in Barlo, the Netherlands, against the backdrop of a transformative period in modern Kurdish political history. Bringing together more than 300 delegates representing the four parts of Kurdistan and the global diaspora, the congress aims to recalibrate the movement’s strategic direction in a post-conflict context.
This year’s congress is particularly significant, taking place less than a month after the formal dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on 12 May 2025 and the renunciation of its decades-long armed campaign. Founded in 1999, the KNK has long functioned as a pan-Kurdish umbrella organisation committed to fostering national unity and enhancing transnational coordination across diverse political actors. Now, in the aftermath of the PKK’s disbandment, the KNK finds itself at the forefront of guiding the Kurdish national movement into a new era grounded in negotiation and diplomacy.
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Central to this shift is the 27 February declaration by imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who issued a wide-reaching appeal for a democratic and peaceful resolution to the Kurdish question. Öcalan’s message, which has since echoed throughout Kurdish communities and political institutions, provided the conceptual and strategic foundation for the dissolution of the PKK’s armed structure and the transition towards a civil political framework.
In a letter submitted to the congress, Cemil Bayık and Murat Karayılan, senior figures in the Kurdish freedom movement and long-serving members of the now-defunct PKK, reaffirmed their commitment to the KNK’s mission. They described Öcalan’s appeal as “historic in both its timing and scope”, and urged all Kurdish actors to rise to the occasion.
“The process initiated by Mr Öcalan is not only a response to present-day dynamics but also a forward-looking political project,” they wrote. “The decommissioning of our armed forces on 12 May signifies not an end but a transformation of the Kurdish struggle. We now enter a phase where democratic legitimacy and unity must be institutionalised through platforms such as the KNK.”
The letter further called for systematic dialogue and strategic planning among Kurdish organisations across the region and the diaspora, reiterating the need for an inclusive national conference. “This is a decisive historical moment,” the statement concluded. “KNK must lead the charge by fostering consensus, promoting solidarity, and ensuring that Kurdish political aspirations are expressed through unified, democratic means.”
The congress opened with welcoming addresses by KNK members Refîq Xefur and Dilsah Osman. Xefur paid tribute to fallen leaders of the movement and emphasised the moral responsibility to uphold their legacy. Osman, meanwhile, stressed the importance of transcending partisan boundaries, affirming: “While diversity is a natural strength, our shared struggle must always supersede individual or organisational interests.”
KNK Co-Chairs Zeynep Murad and Ahmet Karamus also delivered keynote speeches outlining the current political climate. Murad hailed the breadth of representation at the congress as a reflection of Kurdish resilience and plurality. Karamus situated the congress within a broader geopolitical analysis, citing instability in Syria, Ukraine, and the wider Middle East as both a warning and an opportunity.
“We are entering a volatile but potentially transformative period in regional affairs,” Karamus stated. “The collapse of former paradigms compels us to forge a new path, one built not on armed resistance but on strategic political engagement and unified action.”
The congress continued with the election of a new executive committee and the screening of a documentary tracing the KNK’s development over the past 26 years. Over the coming days, delegates will engage in policy deliberations and are expected to produce a final declaration outlining practical steps for the coming period.
