In a follow-up to the recent Musyawarah Kubro urging islah, PBNU General Chairman KH Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya) and Rais Aam KH Miftachul Akhyar reconciled with a handshake and hug at Pondok Pesantren Lirboyo in Kediri on December 25, 2025. They agreed to jointly organize the 35th NU Congress in 2026, aiming to resolve months-long internal tensions.
This reconciliation at Pondok Pesantren Lirboyo in Kediri, East Java, marks a breakthrough in the PBNU leadership conflict, which pitted the syuriyah wing under Rais Aam KH Miftachul Akhyar— who had appointed an acting chairman—against the tanfidziyah supporting General Chairman KH Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya). The dispute, highlighted in the Forum Musyawarah Kubro on December 21 at the same venue, had urged islah within days or escalation to an accelerated congress.
On December 25, attended by senior kiai including Lirboyo caretaker KH Anwar Mansyur, KH Nurul Huda Djazuli, KH Abdullah Ubab Maimoen, and KH Machasin, the leaders shook hands and embraced emotionally. A PBNU Syuriyah Consultation Meeting, involving Syuriyah, Tanfidziyah, and Mustasyar members, unanimously decided to expedite the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama Congress in 2026 via a joint committee with mustasyar and pesantren input.
Lirboyo spokesperson KH Abdul Muid Shohib confirmed: "The meeting agrees to hold the 35th Congress as soon as possible." Gus Yahya added that reconciliation paves the way for organizational unity through congress. Vice President and PBNU Mustasyar KH Ma’ruf Amin noted the joint agreement prevents unilateral actions.
This resolves tensions pending the congress, upholding nahdliyah brotherhood. Part of the 'PBNU Leadership Reconciliation' series.
