A new interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, has been appointed in Syria with the backing of rebel groups who toppled President Bashar al-Assad. As refugees from the country’s long civil war began returning home, Bashir vowed to lead the interim authority until March 1.
Bashir, a figure unknown across most of Syria, ran the rebel-led Salvation Government before the recent rebel offensive swept into Damascus. US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urged rebels not to assume autocratic leadership but instead run an inclusive process to form a transitional government.
The new government must uphold commitments to respect minority rights, facilitate humanitarian assistance, and prevent terrorism. The US has also expressed concerns about the appointment of HTS, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, as a key player in the new government.
Rebuilding Syria will be a massive task after years of war that killed hundreds of thousands of people. With European countries pausing asylum applications from Syrians, some refugees began making their way back home. Al Jabeer, a Syrian refugee who returned to Damascus with his 10-year-old daughter, said he was optimistic about the new government’s ability to provide better conditions than under Assad.
However, US officials remain cautious, warning that Washington will work out how to engage with rebel groups and stressing the need for inclusive governance. The appointment of Bashir as interim prime minister adds a new layer of complexity to Syria’s fragile transition process.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east