Aleppo Kurdish Council says April 1 agreement reactivated after talks
QAMISHLO, Syria (North Press) – The co-chair of the Kurdish Neighborhoods Council in Aleppo said on Sunday that local representatives recently met with officials from the Syrian government to discuss the status of service and security arrangements in the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh.
Hevin Suleiman told al-Thamina Channel that the discussions focused on the “April 1 Agreement,” which outlines coordination measures between local administrative bodies and state institutions in the neighborhoods. “We held a recent meeting with Damascus government officials regarding the April 1 Agreement,” she said.
According to Suleiman, both sides agreed to “reactivate the April 1 Agreement,” which had faced partial delays in implementation in recent months due to administrative and security-related obstacles.
She explained that several military and security earth mounds were removed from the entrances of the two neighborhoods. “The soil barriers and checkpoints belonging to the Ministry of Defense and Internal Security have been removed, keeping only joint checkpoints,” she stated.
Despite these developments, Suleiman warned that essential supplies have not yet been allowed into the area. “Until now, fuel has not been permitted to enter Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, which poses a risk, especially with the depletion of reserve stock in the neighborhoods,” she said.
Residents of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh have repeatedly raised concerns about restrictions affecting fuel, medical supplies, and basic commodities. Local administrative bodies affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) have said that ensuring the smooth flow of essential materials is vital for maintaining stability and public services.
On Friday, the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) in Aleppo announced that they had begun removing their own checkpoints from the entrances to the neighborhoods, confirming that the process was coordinated as part of efforts to ease civilian movement. The Asayish said the step was taken to support daily life and maintain security through shared mechanisms with other relevant bodies.
The neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh are home to tens of thousands of residents and rely on cooperative arrangements between local councils, security bodies, and state institutions to manage services and maintain stability. The April 1 Agreement has served as a framework for such coordination, aiming to prevent tensions and ensure residents’ access to essential needs.