There is a new prime minister of Syria.
The rebel groups, led by Abu Mohammed al Jolani’s Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), have installed a transition government to run the country and navigate the turbulent first months of what some are hailing as “Free Syria”.
This interim government – which says it will be in place until March to sort out “constitutional issues” – is led by new Prime Minister Mohammed al Bashir.
Who is Mohammed al Bashir?
Born in 1983 in the Idlib region of northwestern Syria, Mr Bashir graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Aleppo in 2007.
He went on to work for the Syrian Gas Company. After the civil war broke out in 2011 he became director of an institution that provided education to children affected by the conflict.
He obtained a second degree in Sharia and Law from Idlib University in 2021.
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From head of rebel government to prime minister
At the beginning of the year Mr Bashir was appointed head of the so-called Salvation Government, which had run things in areas controlled by rebel groups.
He was chosen by the General Shura Council, which is made up of representatives from different civil and community organisations under government control, it has been reported.
After the city of Hama was captured by rebel forces during this month’s lightning offensive, Mr Bashir hailed “a new dawn of freedom and dignity”.
In an address published on the Salvation Government’s website, he said: “Our people in Hama, we congratulate you on this clear victory and we promise you in Salvation Government we are committed to living up to your expectations by rebuilding your city to return it to its leading civilised status.
“We will work to restore services, support the economy, and provide security and justice benefiting from the energies of the city’s people, including elites, academics, doctors, engineers, teachers and lawyers. This is a day of joy and pride, but it is also a day of work and responsibility.”
After rebel forces moved into Damascus and Assad fled to Russia, Mr Bashir was appointed the new prime minister of Syria, leading a transition government.
No longer just running part of one province, he now has a country reeling from war and dictatorship to administrate.
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What will the new government do?
Mr Bashir’s transitional government will be comprised from members of the Salvation Government that governed the rebel stronghold in the northwest before the fall of Assad, he said, calling the task “a great challenge”.
The new government met for the first time on Tuesday, with departing prime minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalal among those present.
“We were tasked by the general command with managing the affairs of the Syrian government during a transitional period,” Mr Bashir said in a statement after the meeting.
Behind him as he spoke were two flags – the green, black and white of the Syrian opposition, and a white flag with the Islamic oath of faith in black writing, typically flown in Syria by Sunni Islamist fighters.
“This government is a temporary caretaker government that will last until March 2025, until the constitutional issues are resolved,” he said.
It’s not immediately clear what all these “constitutional issues” are or what system of government will emerge.
Mr Bashir added that he hopes ministers from the former Syrian government will assist the new transitional administration during the next few months.
The rebels’ command has ordered fighters to withdraw from cities, two sources told the Reuters news agency, and police and internal security forces affiliated with HTS have been directed to deploy instead.
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What challenges does Syria face?
Mr Bashir and his interim government face huge challenges in governing Syria, where citizens have endured more than a decade of brutal civil war.
He has said he aims to bring back millions of refugees who had fled the country, restore security and provide basic services – but acknowledged this is difficult because his country lacks foreign currency reserves.
“In the coffers there are only Syrian pounds worth little or nothing. One US dollar buys 35,000 of our coins,” he told
Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera.
“We have no foreign currency and as for loans and bonds we are still collecting data. So yes, financially we are very bad.”
Foreign relations
Another possible priority will be getting sanctions lifted and aid from foreign countries.
Rebel leader al Jolani and HTS remain designated terrorists by the US due to their past links with al Qaeda – al Jolani says he has renounced extremism and now preaches pluralism and tolerance.
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In his first comments to a Western news organisation following the fall of Assad, al Jolani said foreign countries have nothing to fear from Syria.
Following the overthrow of Assad, there has been speculation that Western countries could remove them from their terror lists.
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US secretary of state Antony Blinken said America would work with groups in Syria and regional partners to ensure that the transition runs smoothly, though he was not specific about which groups the US would work with.
He said Syrians should decide their future and that other countries should “support an inclusive and transparent process” and not interfere.
“The United States will recognise and fully support a future Syria government that results from this process,” he said.
“We stand prepared to lend all appropriate support to all of Syria’s diverse communities and constituencies.”
