QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syria witnessed a series of political developments throughout 2025 following the fall of the al-Assad regime, some of which were described as historic. Most notably was the agreement signed on March 10 between the Syrian Transitional President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi.
At the same time, other political milestones, such as the formation of a caretaker government followed by a transitional government and the holding of parliamentary elections, were accompanied by a wide wave of criticism and objections.
One year after the fall of the Assad regime, negotiations between the Syrian transitional government and the SDF are still ongoing. Meanwhile, Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria is calling for self-determination and secession, while demands for the implementation of a federal system are rising along the Syrian coast.
Caretaker government
Two days after the fall of the regime, a caretaker government was announced to manage the country, following a meeting held in the capital, Damascus.
In February 2025, factions that participated in the “Deterrence of Aggression” operation met and decided to dissolve themselves, appointing Ahmad al-Sharaa as president of the transitional phase, while suspending the constitution and dissolving the People’s Assembly.
Several Syrian political actors criticized the so-called “Victory Conference,” stating that the Syrian public had been expecting a comprehensive national conference to lay the foundations for drafting a consensus-based constitution and holding parliamentary and presidential elections.
Political bodies, including the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), stressed that critical decisions should have emerged from a national conference representing all Syrian components, sects, and social groups, including women and youth.
March 10 agreement
On March 10, 2025, an agreement described as “historic” was signed between Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa and SDF Commander in Chief Mazloum Abdi. It included eight key provisions, most notably: guaranteeing the rights of all Syrians to representation and participation in the political process and state institutions based on competence; recognizing the Kurdish community as an integral component of the Syrian state and guaranteeing its constitutional rights; implementing a nationwide ceasefire; integrating civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria into state administration, including border crossings, airports, and oil and gas fields; ensuring the return and protection of displaced persons; supporting the state in combating remnants of the al-Assad regime and all threats to its security and unity; and rejecting calls for division, hate speech, and attempts to incite strife.
Despite several rounds of negotiations between the SDF and the transitional government, and the failure to reach an official announcement on implementing the March 10 agreement, talks continue regarding mechanisms for its implementation.
Transitional government
On March 30, 2025, the formation of Syria’s transitional government was announced, a move described by its proponents as an expression of the will to build a new state.
During the announcement ceremony in Damascus, officials emphasized that the country faces major challenges requiring unity and cohesion, pledging to rebuild state institutions on the basis of accountability and transparency, and to open new horizons in the education and health sectors.
However, the announcement sparked widespread controversy, particularly among Kurdish, Druze, and Alawite circles, who argued that the proposed constitution was inconsistent with previous understandings and represented a retreat from them.
The Druze religious authority also rejected the current government, describing it as “extremist,” and affirmed its refusal to accept any form of consensus with the existing authority.
Objections to constitutional declaration
Since the issuance of the new constitutional declaration, signed by Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa, it has faced broad opposition, protests, and demands for its revision and amendment.
The Druze response was voiced by the spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, who stated at the time, “We reject the constitutional declaration and call for its redrafting to establish a participatory democratic system that takes into account the country’s historical and cultural particularities.”
He also called for the declaration to guarantee the independence and separation of powers, expand the authorities of local administrations, and limit the “exclusive” powers of the presidency.
Since then, residents of Suwayda in southern Syria have repeatedly organized demonstrations calling for “independence and self-determination.”
The Druze call for independence followed a major attack on Suwayda that sparked widespread anger and tension among residents, amid growing demands to hold those responsible for the violence accountable and to protect civilians in the area.
Syrian coast and calls for federalism
Along the Syrian coast, Alawites demonstrated on several occasions, calling for decentralization, the release of detainees, and an end to kidnappings and killings.
These protests followed a call by Ghazal Ghazal, the spiritual leader of the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria, who demanded “federalism and political decentralization, an end to ethnic cleansing, killing, kidnapping, and enslavement, and the release of detainees from prisons.”
According to observers, the Syrian scene one year after the fall of the al-Assad regime appears increasingly complex and fragmented. In the absence of a comprehensive national consensus and clear implementation mechanisms, the country remains at a critical crossroads, where opportunities to build a new state intersect with the risks of reproducing past crises in new forms.