On Tuesday, in a televised speech, Mohamed al-Bashir stated that until March 1, 2025, he would serve as the prime minister of the interim government in Syria. Al-Bashir is a representative of the Syrian rebels who on Sunday announced the capture of Damascus and thus the end of over 50 years of rule by the Assad family.
Mohamed al-Bashir, the new prime minister of the interim government Syriais associated with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, whose forces entered Damascus over the weekend. On Monday former Prime Minister Mohamed al-Jalali handed power over to the leadership of the rebel group.
In the past, the 41-year-old politician performed various functions in the “underground” structures of the Syrian state created by or around HTS. He was, among others, director for Muslim education in the ministry responsible for respecting Islamic norms. He is an engineer by profession.
What's next in Syria?
For now, there is no official information on what the transitional government in Syria will look like, what form it will take, or who will be represented in it. Currently, the Syrian National Rebirth Government is headquartered in Idlib, which is located approximately 65 km southwest of Aleppo. According to experts, the speed and effectiveness of the HTS offensive on the country's capital surprised the rebels themselves.
– The new cabinet will probably prioritize the consolidation of newly acquired territories, the transformation of government institutions and the repatriation of Syrian refugees and displaced persons, Professor Stephen Zunes from the University of San Francisco told Qatar's Al-Jazeera television.
He escaped from the capital, Damascus, over the weekend Bashar al-Assadwho ruled Syria for nearly a quarter of a century. He and his family found refuge in Russiawhere thanks to a personal decision Vladimir Putin all received asylum. On Monday Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed these reports.
After the fall of the Assad regime, tens of thousands of people, including women and children, were released from prisons across Syria. Syrian penitentiaries were famous for cruelty and inhumane conditions. Opponents of the dictatorship were detained there, among others.
Main photo source: OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP/East News