Syria’s Transitional Government: Centralized Power Under the Guise of Inclusivity

Following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syria initiated a significant political transition under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who unveiled a new 23-member Cabinet on March 29, 2025. Designed to reflect Syria’s religious and ethnic diversity, the new government seeks to project a message of national unity and inclusivity.

Prominent among the appointees is Hind Kabawat, a Christian and veteran opposition figure, now serving as Minister of Social Affairs and Labor. Her inclusion, along with Yarub Badr (an Alawite) as Transport Minister and Amjad Badr (a Druze) as Agriculture Minister, signals an attempt to integrate varied communities into national governance. These appointments suggest symbolic inclusivity, but critics argue that they fall short of meaningful power-sharing.

The Kurdish-led autonomous administration in northeastern Syria swiftly condemned the new government as unrepresentative, refusing to recognize its legitimacy. This criticism stems in part from the absence of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Cabinet—an exclusion seen as deliberate marginalization of a key player in Syria’s post-conflict landscape.

According to Fawaz Gerges, Professor of Middle Eastern Politics at the London School of Economics, the government is a “mixed bag.” While some diversity is visible, real power remains firmly in al-Sharaa’s hands. He controls all critical ministries—defense, interior, and foreign affairs—and, with no prime ministerial role defined in the transitional constitution, he governs as both head of state and de facto head of government. This consolidation indicates a shift toward authoritarian centralization rather than democratic transition.

The international community is cautiously observing Syria’s next steps. With 90% of the population in poverty and 75% in need of humanitarian aid, Western sanctions have deepened the country’s economic crisis. Al-Sharaa’s strategy may be to use the semblance of inclusivity to appeal to Western powers—particularly Germany, France, and the United States—in hopes of having sanctions eased. However, doubts persist regarding the sincerity of these reforms and whether this government can deliver stability, security, and reconciliation.

In his inauguration speech, al-Sharaa declared the new government a collective effort to “build a new state.” Yet the road ahead remains uncertain. The regime’s ability to balance centralized control with the need for genuine inclusivity, respond to the demands of sidelined groups like the Kurds, and win international legitimacy will shape Syria’s post-war reconstruction and its prospects for reintegration into the global order.