In a major shift following the fall of Bashar Assad, President Ahmed al-Sharaa has named Mazloum Abdi, the former head of the Syrian Democratic Forces, as a presidential adviser. This appointment follows a landmark deal to dissolve the SDF in exchange for Kurdish rights and citizenship restoration.
Restoring citizenship and the three-day Kurdish school week
The dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is being accompanied by significant cultural and legal concessions for the Kurdish population. According to the report, President Ahmed al-Sharaa has moved to restore citizenship to thousands of Kurds who were stripped of their nationality during the 1960s. This move aims to reintegrate a population that has long been marginalized by the previous regime.
The Syrian Education Ministry has also announced that schools in Kurdish-majority regions will now teach the Kurdish language three days per week.. During a transitional period, pupils will be able to study various subjects in Kurdish before eventually being expected to learn in Arabic or English. Additionally, the government has elevated the Nowruz holiday, the traditional Persian New Year , to the status of a national holiday to further signal inclusion.
Sipan Hamo and Ilham Ahmed's ascent in the Sharaa administration
High-ranking Kurdish leaders are transitioning from militia command to formal roles within the Sharaa administration. sipan Hamo, the former commander of the Kurdish People's Protection Units, has been named the new deputy defense minister. Furthermore, Ilham Ahmed, a former SDF co-chair of foreign affairs, is scheduled to become a member of parliament.
These appointments , alongside the naming of Mazloum Abdi as a presidential adviser, represent a fundamental shift in how the central government in Damascus interacts with the northeastern territories. Abdi, who led the SDF for over a decade and played a critical role in the fight against the Islamic State, now brings his experience to the highest levels of the new Syrian state.
The Trump-Barrack endorsement of the Sharaa government
The United States has signaled its support for this integration through the diplomatic efforts of envoy Tom Barrack. As the report notes, Barrack attributed the successful dissolution of the SDF to the "far-sighted leadership" of President Donald Trump, describing the arrangement as an example of true integration without winners or losers. This American backing comes at a time when the SDF's standing in Washington had been declining following the overthrow of the Assad regime.
The unresolved tension between the YPG legacy and Turkish security
Turkey remains a cautious observer of the deal, primarily due to its long-standing view of Kurdish armed groups as extensions of the PKK. While Turkish authorities have reluctantly endorsed the integration as a potential step toward dissolving militias such as the YPG, the underlying security concerns persist. The Turkish opposition DEM Party has already urged parliament to invite Abdi and Ahmed to visit Turkey, hoping to advance lasting peace through dialogue.
Uncertainties regarding the PKK and educational transitions
Several critical questions remain regarding the long-term stability of this arrangement and the actual implementation of the peace deal.. It remains unverified how the transition from Kurdish-language instruction to Arabic or English will be managed in schools without causing social friction or educational setbacks. Additionally, while the SDF has officially dissolved, it is still unclear how the new government will manage the disarmament of various local elements or if the Turkish government will truly view the end of the YPG as a permanent security victory.
Comments 0