The Cabinet consists of 23 members, most of whom are close allies of al-Sharaa holding key positions, with a single woman and represents the mix of religious and ethnic groups.
“The establishment of a new government stands as a testament to our collective resolve to construct a new nation,” al-Sharaa declared during the formal inauguration at the presidential palace.
With the announcement of a transitional government, the new leaders aim to set a significant milestone as they work towards rejuvenating Syria post the end of 14 years of civil war post-Assad’s removal.
International entities have pressured Syria’s Islamist leadership to form a government more emotive and inclusive of the nation’s varied ethnic and sectarian populations.
The global stance was accentuated following the killings of hundreds of Alawite civilians earlier in March within violence along Syria’s western coast.
Who is in Syria’s new transitional government?
Key positions were retained by al-Sharaa’s close allies, with Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, and the head of general intelligence, Anas Khattab, appointed as interior minister, reaffirming al-Sharaa’s allies in power.
The inclusion of Yarub Badr, an Alawite appointed as transportation minister, and Amgad Badr, going to lead the Agriculture Ministry who hails from Syria’s Druze minority, marks an attempt at ethnic representation.
Appointments included veteran opposition figure Hind Kabawat, appointed as social affairs and labor minister, and Raed al-Saleh, the head of the White Helmets, as emergency minister, indicating a broader political representation.
The newly announced mixed government is a stance to pressures from Western countries to lift crippling economic sanctions that have been in place for over a decade.
According to UN reports, the conflict has left 90% of Syrians below the poverty line with millions facing reduced food aid.
When will Syria hold elections?
Al-Sharaa, leading the successful Islamist rebel group against Assad, was chosen as interim president in January and has proposed a transitional period of five years before establishing the means for elections.
Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
