Politics

Syria: President Ahmed al-Sharaa Forms Transitional Government

Published MAR 30 2025

Story

Above: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Image credit: Ali Haj Suleiman/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, announced a new 23-member transitional government on Saturday. This is the first major cabinet formation since Bashar al-Assad's removal from power in December.
Arab News
Breitbart
The new cabinet features religious and ethnic diversity, including Alawite, Kurdish, Druze, and Christian community representatives. Hind Kabawa was named social affairs and labor minister — the lone woman appointee.
The Washington Post
Al Jazeera
Middle East Monitor
Key positions remained with al-Sharaa's allies, with Murhaf Abu Qasra retaining the Defense Ministry and Asaad al-Shibani retaining his foreign minister role. Meanwhile, former intelligence chief Anas Khattab was appointed as interior minister.
Timesofisrael
Breitbart
Additionally, the government established new ministries, including a Ministry of Emergency and Disasters led by Raed Saleh — former head of the White Helmets rescue organization.
Al Jazeera
Arab News
This cabinet formation follows recent sectarian violence in Syria's coastal region that resulted in over 1,000 deaths, mostly among the Alawite community.
Timesofisrael
The New York Times
As specified in the recently adopted temporary constitution, the new government will operate without a prime minister for a five-year transitional period.
The Washington Post
EuroNews

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

This is a new phase in Syria's journey, a declaration to build a new state, and a significant step toward national unity and stability. By incorporating diverse ethnic and religious groups under strong leadership through the transitional period, Syria has shown commitment to inclusive governance and institutional reform.

Syrian Arab News Agency

The Jerusalem Post

Narrative B

Al-Sharaa's inner circle maintains centralized power over the cabinet, and his allies hold key security portfolios. The absence of a prime minister and limited female representation raise concerns about the government's intention to rebuild state institutions based on accountability and transparency or genuine power-sharing and democratic transition.

The New York Times

The Washington Post