One of the most serious challenges is to integrate the Syrian population who had escaped from the war; over seven million were internally displaced and around five million went into exile.
By SULEMAN DANGOR
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led Syrian Salvation Government has declared that a ‘new chapter is being written in Syria’s history’, that it’s the start of a new era for the country and that there would be unity, justice and equality for all citizens.
The focus would be on striving to build a nation grounded in justice, equality and full rights and responsibilities for everyone.
Syrians celebrated the end of the Bashar al-Assad’s departure from the country. Young men and women pledged to take the initiative to ‘start rebuilding Syria from scratch and build a new Syria away from the previous regime’. They’ve also expressed a willingness to be more active in the community.
Many and varied reasons have been advanced for the rapid collapse of Assad’s regime in Syria. While some believe that his fall was orchestrated by the US and its ally Israel, others claim that there was an agreement between Russia and Turkey to recall Assad.
The coalition opposed to Assad includes a diverse range of factions, including extremist factions like former members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), amongst others. This has raised serious concerns about the future of Syria given the fact that these groups have been implicated of massacres of civilians, both Muslim and non-Muslim, in Syria.
Images emerging from Sednaya and other Syrian detention facilities since the fall of Assad clearly show the ‘unimaginable barbarity’ suffered by Syrians for years. A UN official described the images as ‘a profound testament to unspeakable suffering and pain beyond comprehension endured by those detained, their families and their loved ones’.
The factions opposing Assad were supported by the Americans and Saudis whereas the Russians and Iranians were invited to defend Assad. While each faction had its own agenda, several were determined to depose Assad because of his oppression and subjugation of his own people for decades.
One of the most serious challenges is to integrate the Syrian population who had escaped from the war; over seven million were internally displaced and around five million went into exile. Syria’s population prior to the conflict was approximately 21 million. In the years that followed, hundreds of thousands were killed, and about 13 million fled their homes. Humanitarian groups continue to warn of the dire situation in the country, saying it is not ready to support hundreds of thousands of returning refugees.
The tendency to take revenge against those guilty of atrocities is natural and not surprisingly there are some among the coalition who are determined to pursue the Assad regime’s officials and punish them. The coalition’s leader stated that those who committed crimes against the Syrian people will be judged in accordance with the law and has indicated that it will guarantee religious freedom. Nonetheless, this makes national reconciliation a top priority for the new administration. Though this is a colossal task, failure to attain unity of purpose will plunge the country into civil war.
Security has to be re-established as a matter of urgency. The army has virtually disbanded leaving the country unprotected. Israel has taken advantage of the situation and has occupied Syrian land under the pretext of defending itself. The UN chief decried ‘recent and extensive violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’ as Israel continues to push into Syrian territory beyond the occupied Golan Heights.
Other challenges include taking control of oil exports, which in 2011 generated a quarter of Syria’s revenues. The oil fields are in areas controlled by the US and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Another key issue is the lifting of sanctions which have been inhibiting the country’s export of agricultural products.
The coalition has agreed to allow the previous government officials to remain in place for three months as an interim measure. This is a positive sign because it will avoid disruption of the state machinery. A meeting was held between Salvation Government ministers and the former ministers of Assad’s administration to carry out the transfer of power.
The Government has expressed gratitude to Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman and Italy for resuming the work of their diplomatic missions in Damascus. Qatar and Türkiye are said to have promised to reopen their embassies in Damascus soon. The head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says the country has to live with the new ‘realities’ of Syria after the departure of their ally, President Bashar al-Assad.
Leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US have announced that they are ready to support the transition to an ‘inclusive’ government in Syria.
It’s too early to predict what will happen in the next few months. Many are pessimistic and do not expect the coalition to last thereby plunging the country into chaos. But others are optimistic and believe that though the Syrians have many challenges ahead of them, life in Syria will improve in time to come.
Only time will tell.
- This article was first published in the January 17, 2025, print edition of Muslim Views.
Suleman Essop Dangor is Emeritus Professor of religion, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
