Syrian Kurds reject legitimacy of new transitional government

QAMISHLO, Syrian Kurdistan,— The Kurdish-led administration in Syria’s autonomous Kurdish region in northwestern Syria announced Sunday that it does not recognize the newly formed national government, arguing that the leadership fails to represent Syria’s diverse population.

“A government that does not reflect the country’s diversity cannot govern Syria effectively,” the administration said in a statement, adding that it would not comply with the new government’s decisions.

The announcement came a day after Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa introduced a transitional government, replacing the caretaker authorities that had been in place since the removal of Bashar al-Assad in December.

The 23-member cabinet is mostly made up of Sharaa’s allies and includes only one Kurd from Damascus, who is not from the Kurdish-administered region.

The Kurdish administration had previously reached an agreement to integrate into state institutions as part of efforts to unify the country after more than a decade of civil war. However, Sunday’s statement indicates a shift in position.

The statement from Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria emphasized that Syrians have long endured the consequences of a governance model that excludes large portions of the population.

“For years, previous governments dismissed Syria’s ethnic and cultural diversity, sidelining a significant part of society from political decision-making and plunging the country into deep crisis,” the statement said. “The people had hoped this approach would finally come to an end, paving the way for a democratic and inclusive government.”

However, the announcement of the new government in Damascus on Saturday, March 29, shattered those expectations, the statement continued. “It has become evident that this cabinet is no different from past administrations, once again disregarding Syria’s social diversity. The fundamental principle that all segments of the Syrian population must be genuinely and fairly represented has, once more, been ignored.”

Syria’s interim President Ahmed Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, with his new transitional cabinet, Damascus, Syria, March 29, 2025. Photo: SANA

Sharaa’s Islamist coalition, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), took control of Syria on December 8 following a rapid military campaign that ended the Assad family’s decades-long rule.

Sharaa, who is also known by the name Abu Mohammed al-Golani, was named interim president in January. His past affiliations include ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State before founding al-Nusra Front, a group that later rebranded as HTS.

The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration in Syrian Kurdistan follows a secular, decentralized governance model emphasizing gender equality, grassroots democracy, and environmental sustainability. Established on September 6, 2018, it has since worked to implement democratic confederalism across municipalities and regions in North and East Syria.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)