Syria Announces Transitional Government in Wake of Al-Assad Ouster
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced the formation of a transitional government, appointing a 23-minister cabinet aimed at representing the country’s diverse ethnic and religious communities, Al Jazeera reports.
The announcement follows the ousting of long-time President Bashar al-Assad in December by a rebel offensive.
The new cabinet, which will be led by al-Sharaa himself in the absence of a prime minister, includes figures from various religious backgrounds. Yarub Badr, an Alawite, has been appointed as Minister of Transport, while Amgad Badr, a member of the Druze community, will head the Ministry of Agriculture.
“The formation of a new government today is a declaration of our joint will to build a new state,” al-Sharaa stated in a speech marking the occasion.
The announcement comes amidst pressure from Western and Arab countries to establish a more inclusive government, especially after recent violence in which hundreds of Alawite civilians were killed along Syria’s western coast. The cabinet seeks to address these concerns by incorporating members from various communities.
A notable appointment is that of Hind Kabawat, a veteran opposition figure from Syria’s Christian minority and a long-time critic of al-Assad. She will serve as the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, making her the first woman to be appointed to a ministerial position by al-Sharaa.
Mohammed Yosr Bernieh will assume the role of Finance Minister. Meanwhile, Murhaf Abu Qasra and Asaad al-Shibani will retain their positions as Defence and Foreign Ministers respectively, having served in the previous caretaker cabinet.
Al-Sharaa, appointed interim president in January, has pledged to build up Syria’s decimated public institutions and govern the country until elections, which he estimates could take up to five years to organize.
In a significant move, al-Sharaa announced the creation of a new Ministry for Emergency Situations and Disasters, appointing Raed al-Saleh, leader of the White Helmets – the Syrian rescue organization renowned for its work in rebel-held areas – to lead the newly formed ministry.
