Syria undergoes first government restructuring since Bashar al-Assads removal

Syrian Interim President Announces Government Changes

Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has announced a series of government changes, including the appointment of Abdul Rahman Badreddine al-Aama as secretary-general for the presidency. This move comes after accusations of nepotism, with al-Aama replacing al-Sharaa’s brother Maher in the previous role.

Al-Sharaa also appointed Khaled Zaarour as information minister, replacing Hamza Mustafa, who was moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Bassel Sweidan, who heads a committee tasked with reaching settlements with business tycoons linked to the Assad-era elite, as agriculture minister. Governors in the provinces of Homs, Quneitra, and Deir Az Zor were also replaced.

The changes are part of a broader reshuffle of cabinet ministers, which is the first since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Al-Sharaa inherited a country with little functioning state after decades of authoritarian rule worsened by the 13-year war in Syria.

According to reports, no official reason was given for the reshuffle. However, it has been reported that criticism of the president’s previous appointments had led to concerns about nepotism. In recent months, protests and social media campaigns have emerged due to worsening economic conditions and poor governance.

Analysts note that while the changes may appear to address some concerns, they do not necessarily broaden the government’s inner circle. Instead, many of the new appointees come from al-Sharaa’s trusted network. The removal of Druze Agriculture Minister Amjad Badr has also been seen as a step back in terms of minority representation.

The government has also launched trials of Assad-era officials, including Atef Najib, who is accused of overseeing a violent crackdown on protesters during the 2011 uprising.

Source: Al Jazeera