Under the presidency of Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria's transitional government has been formed. This new governmental team, announced last weekend following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, is composed of 23 ministers from diverse backgrounds. Among them stands out Hind Kabawat, a Catholic and the only woman in the cabinet, appointed as Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.
Al-Sharaa, who succeeded former President Assad, has established this team to draft a new constitution and organize the country's first elections after more than a decade of civil war. This cabinet, although predominantly composed of Sunni ministers, reflects Syria's ethnic and religious diversity, including representatives from Christian, Alawite, Druze, and Kurdish communities, in response to international pressure for greater representativeness.
The situation was exacerbated by recent attacks on Alawite civilians in Latakia and Tartus, which resulted in over a thousand deaths, an event that strengthened the call for a more diverse policy.
A Catholic Woman in a Key Role
Hind Kabawat is an opponent of the Assad regime and has long been engaged in interreligious dialogue and the promotion of women's rights. In her new role, she is focused on ensuring everyone is represented, essential priorities in the country's reconstruction. She is the only woman holding a ministerial function in this government.
Besides Kabawat, other figures from diverse communities have been appointed to ministerial posts. Yarub Badr, a member of the Alawite community, was appointed Minister of Transport. Amgad Badr, from the Druze community, will take charge of the Ministry of Agriculture, while the Kurd Mohammed Terko was appointed Minister of Education.
However, the most influential ministries remain in the hands of Ahmad al-Sharaa's close allies, such as Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani and Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, who retain their posts.
The Struggle Against Sanctions and the Humanitarian Situation
The announcement of this government's formation aims to convince Western countries to lift the economic sanctions that have weighed on Syria for over a decade. These sanctions have largely contributed to worsening the country's economic situation, with 90% of the population living below the poverty line and 75% of Syrians dependent on humanitarian aid. Half of the country's infrastructure is also in ruins.
In this difficult context, al-Sharaa has promised to restore the economy through the rehabilitation of industry, monetary reforms, and an increase in foreign investment. However, Western countries have clearly indicated that lifting the sanctions will depend on the government's concrete actions.
Kurdish Rejection
Despite the appointment of a Kurdish minister, the Kurdish government of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) has rejected this new composition, believing it does not properly represent the country's minorities. In particular, the AANES highlighted the absence of representatives from its own administration, which has controlled significant Syrian regions for over ten years.
This rejection highlights the persistent tensions and complexity of the political situation in Syria, where many communities remain distrustful of the new government's intentions and its ability to meet the needs of all Syrian populations.