SDF commander calls for decentralized local governance in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, said on Sunday that Kurds in northeast Syria seek a decentralized form of local governance within a unified Syrian state, emphasizing that administrative self-management remains their primary demand regardless of terminology.
Abdi’s remarks came during responses to questions from Kurdish media outlet Rudaw on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, following a meeting with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, attended by Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the External Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
“The main demand of the Kurds in northeast Syria is decentralized local governance under any name,” Abdi said, according to statements published Sunday.
His comments followed recent remarks by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani denying that Kurdish groups were seeking autonomy. Abdi said the disagreement with Damascus centered on wording rather than substance.
“The issue for the Syrian government concerns titles and terminology, not the content,” he stated, adding, “We are not committed to a specific designation, but rather that Kurds manage their regions’ affairs themselves.”
Abdi stressed that discussions during the international conference included meetings with multiple global actors, all of whom expressed support for Kurdish rights and the need to protect the specific character of Kurdish-populated areas.
“All parties we met emphasized the necessity of safeguarding the particularity of Kurdish regions and preventing renewed attacks against them,” he said, noting that the shared objective was ensuring that Kurds can determine their administrative future within a unified Syria.
Abdi’s participation in the Munich Security Conference comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts involving regional and international stakeholders addressing Syria’s political future and security arrangements in the country’s north and east.