Ahmed al-Sharaa Appointed Transitional President of Syria
Ahmed al-Sharaa has been appointed as Syria’s transitional president following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. He will lead the formation of an interim council and the drafting of a new constitution. The previous government’s structures have been dissolved, and discussions on reparations from Russia are ongoing to aid in Syria’s recovery.
Ahmed al-Sharaa has been named as Syria’s transitional president after leading the offensive that resulted in the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. According to state media, Sharaa will oversee the formation of an interim legislative council, working towards establishing a new constitution for the country. Furthermore, the previous constitution from 2012 has been annulled, and the former parliament, military, and security agencies have been dissolved.
This significant announcement came during a meeting in Damascus attended by military commanders from various rebel factions aligned with Sharaa’s Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS, formerly an affiliate of al-Qaeda and currently classified as a terrorist entity by several nations and organizations, had been a significant force in the last opposition stronghold in northwest Syria. The aftermath of the civil war, which began when Assad violently quelled a peaceful pro-democracy movement in 2011, has left over half a million dead and displaced 12 million others.
Following the swift collapse of Assad’s regime, which culminated in his resignation and subsequent flight to Russia on December 8, an interim government led by Mohammed al-Bashir is now in place, tasked with governance until March. Concurrently, the Syrian government has approached Russia for reparations concerning past wartime actions. Discussions between Sharaa and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov explored strategies to rebuild trust with the Syrian populace through various recovery initiatives.
The Russian government has been actively involved in the conflict since 2015, supporting Assad’s regime through extensive air strikes. Reports confirm that over 21,000 individuals, including many civilians, have lost their lives due to these measures. Following the regime’s downfall, Russia has begun withdrawing troops and equipment from its bases in Syria, while simultaneously seeking to retain influence in the region through strategic locations along its Mediterranean coastline.
After the delegation’s tour of Damascus, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the importance of maintaining ongoing dialogue with Syrian authorities, although he refrained from commenting on reports pertaining to Assad’s potential extradition. Additionally, Sharaa has expressed a desire for a sustained Russian presence in Syria, acknowledging the essential nature of their military and infrastructural support. Sharaa stated, “All of Syria’s arms are of Russian origin, and many power plants are managed by Russian experts.”
The appointment of Ahmed al-Sharaa as Syria’s transitional president marks a pivotal phase in the nation’s governance following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. As the new president, Sharaa is tasked with forming an interim council and establishing a new constitution amid ongoing discussions with Russia concerning wartime reparations and the reconstruction of the country. This transition represents a significant step toward rebuilding Syria after over a decade of civil conflict.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
