The UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, warned [16] April 25 of grave consequences for the country's future without genuine political inclusion and urgent economic support for a successful political transition. During a briefing to the Security Council, Pedersen noted the legacies of misrule, conflict and exclusion in Syria, stating:
This means that the situation is inherently still extremely fragile. The vital ingredients to address this fragility are clear: we need genuine political inclusion so that all Syrians can participate meaningfully in shaping their country's political future, along with countering extremism and terrorism; and real support from the international community to give this transition a chance to succeed against great odds.
Despite expanding to a more diverse cabinet, the new Syrian government has yet to achieve full inclusivity, with the Syrian Women's Political Movement expressing [20] concerns about women's political participation. There is currently only one woman among the 22 cabinet members: Hind Kabawat, a Catholic, was appointed as minister of Labor & Social Affairs.
In reference to the recent violence on the coastal region [17] (Latakia [21]), Pedersen urged the new government to ensure that all segments of Syrian society are protected, and to prevent individuals or groups from taking justice into their own hands or committing revenge-driven attacks. The statement noted that such sporadic incidents continue to persist.
Pedersen commended the regional support [22] to Syria, which has enabled its debt repayment to the World Bank, as well as the UK's lifting [23] of sanctions. But Syria's economic situation remains dire, with dwindling humanitarian aid posing a major threat.
Following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024, the new Syrian interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, announced the formation of a "caretaker government," set to last until March 2025. In late March, al-Sharaa unveiled [18] a new government to oversee the transition. Al-Sharaa proclaimed: "We are witnessing the birth of a new phase in our national process, and the formation of a new government today is a declaration of our common will to build a new State."
From JURIST [24], April 27. Used with permission.
