A symposium in Cairo explores “Öcalan’s philosophy” as a model for peace after the fall of the Assad regime.

The symposium, to be held at the center’s headquarters in the Egyptian capital, aims to explore the vision of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. His vision is considered a foundation for sustainable peace models, particularly in light of recent geopolitical shifts in the Middle East, specifically following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and the reshaping of regional alliances.

Linking the philosophy of “confederation” to the variables of the region

The symposium will focus on discussing the “Call for Peace and a Democratic Society” launched by Öcalan in February 2025. In it, he called on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to cease fire and transition to a legal and democratic process, emphasizing that Öcalan’s physical freedom is a prerequisite for the success of this process.

The symposium will explore the prospects for applying Öcalan’s ideology of “democratic confederalism” to the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and the wider Arab region. This exploration comes in the wake of the events of October 7, 2023, and the fall of Assad in December 2024, which led to a security vacuum and an acceleration of the regional power dynamics.

Egypt’s role as a center for regional dialogue

The seminar will explore how Egypt, as a regional hub for dialogue, can contribute to building democratic societies that include minorities such as Kurds, Arabs, and Syriacs, with a focus on initiatives like the “Peace Manifesto” issued by Öcalan in July 2015.

Experts and researchers in Kurdish and regional affairs are expected to attend, along with guests from international organizations and representatives of Kurdish and Syrian communities.

This symposium is a significant step given the Turkish-Kurdish and Syrian tensions. It aims to offer recommendations that could contribute to formulating Egyptian initiatives to support the peace process between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). It also presents models for managing minorities in a new Syria.