Syrian presidency rejects Kurds' call for decentralization of state

DAMASCUS,— The Syrian interim presidency on Sunday firmly rejected Kurdish call for a decentralized system, warning against any attempts to divide the country through federalism or separatism.

In an official statement, the presidency said, “We categorically reject any move to impose separatism or to establish autonomous entities under the guise of federalism without a national consensus.”

The statement also condemned what it described as “recent activities and statements” by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) advocating for federalism.

“The preservation of Syria’s territorial and national unity is a red line,” the statement stressed.

The remarks came after Syrian Kurdish factions in West Kurdistan (Rojava), the Kurdish region in northwest Syria, convened on Saturday to endorse a common plan advocating for a “decentralized democratic state.“

The comments followed a conference on Saturday where Syrian Kurdish political groups adopted a shared vision for a “decentralized democratic state.”

Since the removal of Bashar al-Assad in December, Syria’s new leadership has consistently opposed Kurdish autonomy.

Although the U.S.-supported Kurdish forces control large parts of the Kurdish region northeastern Syria, gained during battles against Islamic State militants from 2015 to 2019, Damascus insists on preserving a unified nation.

Throughout the civil war, which erupted in 2011, Kurdish regions have operated with de facto self-governance.

However, the interim government has maintained its stance against any form of partition.

In March 2025, interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and SDF commander General Mazloum Abdi signed an agreement to integrate Kurdish governance structures into the national system.

The Islamist Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, serves as the interim president of Syria’s opposition forces. His background includes affiliations with al-Qaeda and ISIS, and he later established the al-Nusra Front, originally tied to al-Qaeda before rebranding as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Speaking at Saturday’s conference, Abdi clarified that the gathering’s aim was not division. “My message to all Syrian groups and to the Damascus government is that this conference seeks unity, not separation,” he said.

Abdi added, “We support all Syrian components gaining constitutional rights to build a decentralized, democratic Syria that includes everyone.”

Control of Syria’s primary oil and gas fields remains in the hands of Kurdish authorities, a potentially vital resource for the country’s reconstruction.

The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of Syrian Kurdistan, recognized for its secular and decentralized governance model and widely respected by Western governments, continues to advance principles of gender equality, direct democracy, and environmental sustainability.

Established in 2018, the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria has been implementing democratic confederalism across municipalities in the region.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)