SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – Suwayda today looks markedly different from the period before the fall of the Assad regime—both in its slogans and in its demands. This shift has become more pronounced since the events of July, when forces of the transitional government launched an offensive on the governorate, followed by a retaliatory attack by local tribes, leaving an estimated 4,000 people dead, according to unofficial local tallies.
Tareq Abu Hamdan, a civil activist from Suwayda, told North Press that“residents were deeply concerned that power might shift to a “radical jihadist” faction.
However, he said that many preferred to give the post-Assad transition a chance to bring about the real change demanded since the early days of the revolution: “freedom, democracy, justice, equality, economic improvement, and restoring Syria’s regional standing.”
Yet, none of these goals have been achieved a year after the regime’s collapse, Abu Hamdan noted. He added that the new government sought to assert control over the southern governorate through force, while the absence of an effective legal framework prevented the establishment of a clear roadmap.
“The solution lies in an international investigative committee to document violations and prosecute perpetrators under international law—not through local mechanisms,” he stressed.
In September, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a six-point roadmap to address the Suwayda crisis, backed by the United States and Jordan.
The roadmap, signed by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, and U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, includes holding perpetrators accountable, compensating victims, restoring services, rehabilitating villages, deploying Interior Ministry forces, reopening roads, disclosing the fate of missing persons, and initiating reconciliation.
But the recently formed Supreme Legal Committee in Suwayda rejected the roadmap, describing it as an attempt to evade responsibility and “entrench impunity.” It stressed that any externally imposed solution would not be binding for residents, who view self-determination as their exclusive right.
Observers, on the other hand, say the plan signals the first indications of regional and international consensus, potentially giving it more political weight than earlier initiatives.
Political stalemate and humanitarian decline
Najeeb Abu Dahn, another civil activist, told North Press that the current situation is marked by political deadlock, persistent blockade measures, and ongoing basic crises.
“The suffocating siege on Suwayda is still ongoing, and there are severe water, electricity, and internet shortages,” he said. “We are in a dire situation, and we have not seen any progress on these files.”
He warned against repeating past experiences that harmed minority communities, emphasizing locals’ desire to establish a secular state that protects all Syrians.
Abu Dahn added that developments in other parts of the country—such as rural Homs and the coast—reflect the spread of extremist ideologies that threaten local diversity, reinforcing the need to safeguard Suwayda’s community and its secular identity.
Between freedom and independence
Poet Anwar Nasr placed the events within a broader context, describing a “shock” after the regime’s fall. “We rose up and protested for freedom and democracy, not to reproduce tyranny,” he said.
“After the massacres, no word is enough to describe what happened,” Nasr told North Press that. “We insist on independence—even if delayed—and we will remain in the Square until it is achieved,” referring to al-Karama Square, known for protests and sit-ins in recent years.
He believes that a confederation could serve as a temporary solution, but emphasized that the final goal is full independence. He urged the international community to support “the people of Jabal Bashan” [Suwayda Governorate] in their demands for freedom and dignity.
Today, Suwayda stands at a critical crossroads—between an unstable security and political landscape and rising local calls for accountability and international protection. With no clear vision for the post-Assad era since the government’s fall on Dec. 8, 2024, the governorate’s future remains open to multiple, uncertain outcomes.
Reporting by Haroun al-Arbid