Hey, this is Sham Jaff, a freelance journalist focused on Asia, Africa and the Americas and your very own news curator.
Issue #416: Two massive shifts this week: The PKK said it’s dissolving after 40+ years of fighting Turkey and declared a ceasefire, but the disarmament isn’t unconditional. Kurds want legal political rights—will Turkey actually budge? Meanwhile, Turkey is still bombing Syrian Kurds. I asked Kurdish analyst Kamal Chomani what this all really means. And then there’s the U.S. slashing HIV funding, leaving clinics in South Africa scrambling. USAID just cut 90% of its global aid contracts, pulling the plug on programs that keep millions alive.
But wait, there’s more: For paid subscribers, I was looking into some pretty revolutionary stuff last week, like how do you help people use and store money who have no bank accounts (spoiler: Bitcoin), how do you make sure people in Africa read more African literature without overpaying (spoiler: WhatsApp), how do you work around Google and Amazon hegemony in cloud services in Africa (spoiler: DIY and share resources). Plus, what the prospects of a new political party by Bangladeshi students really are, Japan's largest wildfire since 1992, a critical look back at the 1995 Beijing Declaration (which called for gender equality), a possible greenwashing project in Uganda by TotalEnergies, and so much more.
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That's it for now. See you next week?
Sham
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🔍 Estimated reading time: 20 min 🔍
You have access to all of my sources by clicking on what's underlined.
Big shout-out to Wikimedia Commons for the helpful maps.
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PKK's Öcalan calls it quits. Is it really the end of the fight?
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What happened
Last Thursday, it finally happened: After more than 40 years of war between Turkey and the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan—the group’s jailed founder and leader—just told his followers to disband. Days later, the PKK declared a ceasefire. It is not an unconditional disarmament though. "We are open to peace only if democratic politics and legal grounds are made possible in Turkey."
Background:
- What is the PKK? PKK is short for the Kurdistan Workers' Party. It is a Kurdish militant group that has been fighting the Turkish government since 1984. Originally wanted an independent Kurdish state, now pushes for Kurdish rights and autonomy. Turkey, the U.S., and the EU label it a terrorist group, but many Kurds see it as a resistance movement.
Why this matters: Kurds are one of the largest stateless ethnic groups (~30-40 million people) spread across Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran. Turkey has historically oppressed Kurdish identity (banning Kurdish language, culture, political movements). The PKK launched an armed rebellion for Kurdish independence, later shifting to demands for autonomy and rights. Turkey responded with military force, and the conflict has killed 40,000+ people (mostly PKK fighters). If the PKK actually dissolves, this could end one of the world’s longest-running insurgencies. As Meghan Bodette, director of research at the Kurdish Peace Institute, writes on X, "this is an opportunity for the start of a political process, not the end of one."
Tell me more
"I take full responsibility for this call," Öcalan’s statement declared, read aloud at a packed news conference in Istanbul (first in Kurdish, then in Turkish). The 75-year-old leader, who’s been imprisoned since 1999, said it was time for the PKK to lay down its weapons and dissolve itself. This is not a hugely surprising move. There's been a lot of buzz already, there have been secret talks that led up to this; rumours that he had been offered better prison conditions and the release of high-profile Kurdish political prisoners. The PKK’s Kurdish "cousins" in northeast Syria—who Turkey also considers a threat—aren’t part of this. Syrian Kurdish officials quickly clarified a day later: "That’s not about us."
I talked to Kurdish analyst Kamal Chomani to get his take on this historic moment:
whlw: How does this impact the Syrian Democratic Forces, short SDF, in Syria? Will this weaken their position?
Chomani: Not at all. If the PKK disarms, the SDF gains autonomy and can fully focus on securing its territories and fighting extremism. The collapse of the 2015 peace talks was largely due to Erdogan’s refusal to accept a Kurdish entity in Syria. He called Rojava a "red line," and Öcalan fired back that Rojava was his "red line", too. Now, Turkey must rethink its approach. If peace holds, Ankara may end its attacks on Rojava and even see the SDF as a potential ally. A bigger shift could come if Turkey believes Ahmed al-Sharaa is moving into the Saudi orbit—then backing the SDF could serve Turkish interests.
whlw: What does this mean for Kurdish politics in Iraq, Iran, and Syria?
Chomani: The PKK’s influence is vast, so this move will reshape Kurdish movements across the region:
- In Iraq, PKK rivals—especially the Barzani faction—will welcome a disarmed PKK, viewing it as a reduced threat. PKK cadres may return to cities, go to Europe, or relocate within Kurdistan.
- In Syria, the PYD remains Öcalanist and will keep implementing his ideas, especially in ecological and economic policies.
- In Iran, the PJAK (the Iranian branch of the PKK; militant and political group that fights for Kurdish rights in Iran) will continue fighting, but Öcalan’s stance could pave the way for a similar peace process if Tehran opens up politically.
whlw: Will Turkey offer real political concessions?
Chomani: It has no other choice. The Kurdish reality can’t be ignored anymore. Turkey failed to defeat the PKK militarily, and Kurdish autonomy is a fact in Iraq and Syria. Turkish strategists may now see resolving the Kurdish issue as more beneficial than continuing the conflict.
whlw: Is Turkey actually moving toward a political solution?
Chomani: There are signs. Öcalan was denied visits for four years, but in October 2024, peace talks led to the ban being lifted. The fact that Öcalan could meet a DEM Party delegation, take a photo, and make a public statement is a huge shift given Turkey’s previous hostility.
whlw: What’s in this for Erdoğan and Bahçeli?
(Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is Turkey’s president, in power for 20+ years. Devlet Bahçeli is the leader of the far-right MHP, Erdoğan’s political ally. They both used anti-Kurdish rhetoric in the past, so their sudden push for peace raises questions about their motives.)
Chomani: For Erdoğan, this could secure another term. He may amend the constitution and run again. If the process succeeds, even ultranationalists seem open to peace, boosting his popularity. As for Bahçeli, at his age, he likely wants to be remembered as a statesman who helped bring peace, not just a nationalist hardliner. The Erdogan-Bahçeli alliance stands to benefit from Kurdish support.
whlw: Could this strengthen Erdoğan ahead of elections?
Chomani: Yes—but not by consolidating power in an authoritarian way. If peace succeeds, Kurds will be kingmakers in Turkish politics, and Erdogan would likely get their vote. Plus, foreign investment would flood into previously neglected, conflict-ridden Kurdish regions, boosting Turkey’s economy.
Some critical voices
- The status quo is f*cked "Right now, arrests of mayors, imprisonment of reporters and continuing detention of Kurdish politicians are impediments to next step of the group." – Aliza Marcus on X
- There's so much racism against Kurds still "When veteran politician Ahmet Türk began reading Öcalan's historic call in Kurdish, Sözcü TV (a very well known news channel and newspaper in Turkey; leans Kemalist) muted the sound, dismissing Kurdish as irrelevant." Fréderike Geerdink reflects on how deep-seated racism continues to block any real progress in Turkey.
- Turkey is still bombing Syrian Kurds "The day after Abdullah Ocalan announces that the PKK will dissolve, Turkey bombs Syrian Kurds. The pretext is gone. Turkey can't claim any kind of security threat now. This just destabilizes Syria's transition and makes it harder for NES (Northeast Syria) to get to a deal." – Meghan Bodette on X
Other voices
- The terror label will disappear Journalist Sefkan Kobanê says, "With the PKK’s dissolution, the ‘terror’ argument will disappear, and in turn, the state must take steps to stop genocidal attacks." Also, in the same interview, he points out that the PKK is still listed as a terrorist organization internationally. However, he believes this peace process—and the legal steps that should follow—will help legitimize the Kurdish struggle globally.
- It's very complicated Journalist Mohammed A. Salih writes on X that the PKK leadership in Qandil is in line with Öcalan's statement, but also offered some major "buts" like, "we want Öcalan to lead the party congress that formally disbands the organization" (some say this is highly unlikely) and "we want a clearly defined legal framework moving forward", suggesting that there might be expectations of democratic reforms, legal protections, and constitutional amendments. "Would it recognize Kurdish indentity in the constitution? Grant official status to the Kurdish language? If so, would it extend to public education? What about some degree of administrative decentralization at the provincial or municipal level?"
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It's official: The U.S. is not the world’s biggest donor anymore
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 Refresher: Back in January, the U.S. hit the brakes on all foreign funding for 90 days—including money for lifesaving HIV programs around the world, run by USAID (aka the U.S. Agency for International Development). Then, just days later, they ordered these programs to stop services immediately. The official reason? To make sure all funding lines up with U.S. foreign policy under President Trump.
What happened
Now, fast-forward to last Wednesday: The U.S. made the funding cut permanent, sending official "Termination Notices" to 90% of its foreign aid contracts (cutting some US$60 billion) and thousands of HIV programs globally—including several in South Africa.
Why this matters: About two-thirds of global AIDS relief comes from the US, most of it through the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, which was set up in 2003 by then-President George W. Bush. South Africa is among the countries likely to be the worst hit: Around 13%, or 7.8 million, people in South Africa are HIV positive — one of the highest rates of HIV in the world. The head of a HIV foundation in South Africa has warned that these cuts will lead to half a million deaths and as many new HIV infections over 10 years.
Good to know: This follows a broader trend. Since taking office, Trump's administration has taken a hard stance against transgender rights, including officially recognizing only two genders in federal policy. Cutting these programs fits into that pattern.
Tell me more
President Donald Trump and his advisor, Elon Musk, have been on a mission to slash foreign aid, arguing that USAID projects push a liberal agenda and waste taxpayer money. Their Department of Government Efficiency has targeted aid programs more aggressively than almost any other part of the federal government.
Unless these programs find new funding fast (which is unlikely), thousands of staff members in South Africa will lose their jobs—and patients will be left without care. The termination letter, signed off by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, didn’t give much explanation beyond: "Your funding is being cut for convenience and in the interests of the U.S. government." The letter doesn’t say who’s responsible for the costs of shutting everything down. That means things like paying off clinic staff who are losing their jobs, cancelling supplier contracts and rent leases, or figuring out what to do with medical equipment and clinic spaces The only vague promise? "More instructions to follow."
Which programs are shutting down?
These weren’t just any clinics—they were some of the few places offering safe, specialized care, including mental health support and help tracking and reporting hate crimes, for vulnerable groups (some of which already face discrimination at public hospitals and therefore struggle to get healthcare). Some key programs losing funding include:
- The Anova Health Institute – ran the Ivan Toms Clinic in Cape Town
- OUT LGBT Wellbeing’s Engage Men’s Health – had a clinic in Johannesburg + mobile services in Nelson Mandela Bay & Buffalo City
- WITS RHI – focused on HIV and gender-affirming healthcare for trans people
What's next for South Africa's fight against HIV?
South Africa’s government is trying to fill the gap and keep HIV treatment programs running. Officials say they’re working on alternative solutions to make sure people don’t lose access to care. President Cyril Ramaphosa has said: "We are looking at various interventions to address the immediate needs and ensure the continuity of essential services." The Health Ministry has also set an ambitious target—getting 1.1 million people living with HIV on treatment by the end of next year.
Zoom out: In Somalia, the U.S.-based humanitarian group Alight has shut down the only health clinics in 13 Somali communities and stopped nutrition programs for 1,700 malnourished children every day. In Haiti, a brand-new hospital in Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, opened just last week by the Colorado-based nonprofit Locally Haiti, has already lost funding.
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Hey, I'm Sham, the person behind this newsletter. Since 2014, I email a bunch of strangers once a week, curating news headlines from Asia, Africa and the Americas. I work under the assumption that, here in the West (I live in Berlin, Germany), we don't read or know much about the global majority, aka the rest of the world.
My goal is to help you burst your Western-centric bubble.
You're on the free list right now. If you're interested in funding my work and reading the full version of my weekly recap, follow me here. Your support is greatly appreciated!
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