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Middle East Eye
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Kurdish refugee camp to be evacuated under Turkey, Iraq deal
Turkey, Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have reached an agreement to evacuate the Makhmour Camp in northern Iraq, according to regional sources speaking to Middle East Eye. The development follows ongoing peace talks between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) since last year, which culminated in the group's announcement in May that it would disband and end its armed struggle. As part of the arrangement, of which the PKK is also a party, the camp is expected to be fully evacuated by September, regional sources said. Under the deal, some camp residents will be resettled within Iraq, while others will be relocated to Turkey. Individuals identified as close to the PKK but not implicated in criminal activity may be temporarily accommodated in Turkey. The Makhmour refugee camp has long been a flashpoint between Ankara and Baghdad. Established in the 1990s, it currently houses more than 12,000 people, primarily Kurds from Turkey who fled their homes amid village evacuations and clashes between Turkish security forces and the PKK in the country's southeast. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Ankara views the camp as a PKK stronghold, alleging it serves as a hub for recruitment, training and logistical support. Turkish officials have maintained for years that the PKK's influence and ideology dominate the camp, which lies in a disputed area between the Iraqi central government and the KRG. Turkey has repeatedly targeted the vicinity of the camp, claiming it shelters 'armed terrorists'. Regional sources told MEE that, in the medium term, the camp's evacuation is expected to advance the PKK's disarmament process and yield benefits for Iraq, the KRG and Turkey. They added that the move would also help eliminate isolated areas under the control of non-state actors defying Iraqi sovereignty. 'During the evacuation, the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the Turkish Armed Forces will be present on the ground to oversee security measures and the resettlement process,' one regional source said. Why Turkey abruptly cancelled an Iraqi oil pipeline agreement Read More » A Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the existence of a trilateral coordination mechanism between Turkey, Iraq and the KRG but declined to comment on whether an explicit deal on Makhmour's evacuation had been reached. Earlier this month, Murat Karayilan, a senior PKK commander, told the media that the group had withdrawn its forces from the camp and handed over its positions to Iraqi authorities. Karayilan accused Iraqi forces of pressuring the group to evacuate. 'They are now tightening the siege from the same positions and putting pressure on our people," he said. Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned PKK leader who earlier this year called for the group's dissolution and has emerged as a central figure in negotiations with Ankara, is also reported to have sent a letter to the residents of Makhmour Camp, where he expressed the need for a "collective" approach to the issue of return. "Undoubtedly, with the progress of this [peace] process, our people will once again return to their own land," he said.
Rudaw Net
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
PKK says Ocalan could join potential party congress remotely
Also in Turkey DEM Party, MHP meet to discuss Turkey-PKK peace process Turkey demands PKK surrender weapons Turkey arrests 5 for espionage, alleged IRGC links Hakkari showcases Kurdish culture in folk dance competition A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A senior commander of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) said on Monday that their jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan should be involved in all stages of a potential party congress, including possibly participating remotely, stressing that his involvement must go beyond a single message or symbolic appearance. 'Some of our friends who are not in the country, who are abroad or in prison, say in their statements that the Leader could send messages through technical means. However, this is not something that can be resolved with a single message,' Murat Karayilan said in an interview with PKK-affiliated Sterk TV aired on Monday. "Yes, maybe he won't be able to come to the congress venue and will participate remotely,' Karayilan said. He previously said Ocalan should attend physically. 'If a congress is held, Leader Apo should be informed about all stages and decisions made and should be able to respond,' Karayilan added. In February, Ocalan called for the group to lay down arms and dissolve itself after more than four decades of conflict with Turkey. The call came amid renewed peace efforts to end the conflict, which began in 1984 and has claimed tens of thousands of lives. A few days later, the PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire, agreeing with Ocalan's message but demanding a physical meeting with him as a precondition for a successful peace process. The group also accused Turkey of continuing attacks, saying a one-sided ceasefire would not be enough. Karayilan said delegations should "go to and from him [Ocalan]" and that he must "provide perspective" to them before they are sent. He also emphasized the need to "speak separately" with those who remain unconvinced. He stressed that, in the current situation, there are "friends, fighters, and commanders" who are still "not convinced." Despite the ceasefire, clashes between the Turkish army and the PKK in the Kurdistan Region continue. On Saturday, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler demanded the PKK surrender its weapons. In early March, a senior PKK commander said that the armed group is undergoing a 'transformation' and will shift to a political struggle within Turkey following its potential dissolution. Founded in 1978, the PKK initially called for the establishment of an independent Kurdistan but now calls for autonomy. The group is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies.
