Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has announced the establishment of a transitional government, appointing 23 ministers in a newly expanded cabinet, marking a significant step towards ending decades of Assad family rule and fostering better relations with the West.
The newly formed Sunni Islamist-led authorities in Syria face mounting pressure from Western and Arab nations to create a government that is more representative of the country’s diverse ethnic and religious populations.
This pressure heightened after the recent killings of hundreds of Alawite civilians—the minority sect from which the ousted leader Bashar al-Assad comes—amid violent events along Syria’s western coast this month.
The cabinet features Yarub Badr, an Alawite appointed as Minister of Transportation, and Amgad Badr, a member of the Druze community, who will head the Agriculture Ministry.
Mohammed Yosr Bernieh has been appointed as Finance Minister.
Murhaf Abu Qasra and Asaad al-Shibani have retained their positions as Defence Minister and Foreign Minister, respectively, in the previous caretaker cabinet that managed Syria following Mr. Assad’s ousting in December due to a swift rebel offensive.
Mr. Sharaa has also announced the creation of two new ministries: one for Sports and another for Emergencies, with Raed al-Saleh, the head of the rescue organization known as the White Helmets, designated as the Minister of Emergencies.
In January, Mr. Sharaa was appointed interim president and committed to forming an inclusive transitional government that aims to rebuild Syria’s devastated public institutions and manage the country until elections, which he stated could take up to five years to organize.
The government will not appoint a prime minister, with Mr. Sharaa expected to oversee the executive branch directly.
The declaration maintains a central role for Islamic law while also safeguarding women’s rights and the freedom of expression.
