Syria’s transitional administration is working to stabilize the country and rebuild its governmental structures. Several significant processes are taking place within this framework, including the dismantling of rebel organizations and incorporating their operatives in the country’s security apparatuses, diplomatic efforts to consolidate and increase the new administration’s international legitimacy, and attempts to begin the country’s economic rehabilitation.
Another major and important process is the stabilization of government systems and the appointment of officials, in which in recent months governors have been appointed to most provinces in the country.
Syria’s new governors face significant challenges. These stem from the situation in which the country finds itself after more than a decade of war, which has left destroyed infrastructure, an economic crisis, as well as polarization and ethnic and religious tensions.
Examining the individuals appointed to the positions of governors can be an additional indication of the direction in which the new administration seeks to turn (similar to the appointment of other officeholders) – whether in the direction of reconciliation and moderation or in the direction of a violent regime with Islamist tendencies that oppresses minorities.
At this point, it is important to note that there is relatively little information about these new governors. Most of them had not previously served in high-profile public positions, and in some cases, there was no official announcement about their appointments. As a result, much of the information about them is based on posts on the various social networks and not on official publications (as opposed to the official publications when the ministers of the interim government were appointed). In addition, the instability of the new administration, as well as the many challenges it faces, lead to many changes in a short period of time. Examples include the replacement of the Minister of the Interior and his transfer to the position of district governor, less than two months after his appointment, as well as the replacement of the temporary governors of some provinces, sometimes more than once.
Damascus Province: Maher Marwan, 45, born in Damascus. Holds a bachelor’s degree in Islamic law. He joined the ranks of the rebels in 2011 (it is not clear to which organization he belonged) and held a number of positions within the rebel government in Idlib. In a number of statements after his appointment, he presented very favorable positions toward Turkey, calling it a partner and a strategic ally, and claiming that the peoples of Turkey and Syria are brothers. Marwan also spoke positively toward Israel, claiming that relations with it should be established. However, he retracted it shortly afterwards due to the outrage his words provoked.
Damascus Countryside – Amer al-Shiekh, 39, from the town of Katana. Also known as Abu Obeida. Al-Sheikh was arrested in the past by the Assad regime and imprisoned for a short period. Shortly after the outbreak of the civil war, he joined the rebels and operated in the Damascus and Deraa areas within the framework of Ahrar al-Sham. As part of his activities in the organization, he also took an active part in the Turkish-led Operation “Olive Branch” against Kurdish forces in northern Syria. In 2021, he was appointed commander of Ahrar al-Sham and held the position until the fall of the Assad regime.
Idlib Province: Muhammad Abdul Rahman, 39, from the town of Mahambal in the Idlib region. Former officer with the rank of Aqid (equivalent to colonel) in the Syrian army. He defected from the army in 2012 and held a series of positions in rebel organizations in the Idlib region, including Jaish al-Fatah. Abd al-Rahman served as interior minister in the “Salvation Government” in Idlib, and after the fall of the Assad regime, he was appointed interior minister in the transitional government, serving in his position for only about a month and a half before he was removed by al-Shara.
Abd al-Rahman replaced Ahmed Issa al-Sheikh, 52, who was appointed in December and previously led the rebel group Suqor al-Sham.
Latakia Province – Muhammad Othman served as governor under the “Salvation Government” in Idlib.
Tartus District – Ahmed Al-Shami, from the village of Maheen (Homs Province). He holds a master’s degree in law. Al-Shami apparently served in a number of government positions as part of the “Salvation Government”.
Hama Governorate – Abul Rahman al-Sahyan. Also known as Abu Firas. There is not much information available about al-Sahyan, but it appears that he does not have a formal education (some sources even claim that he did not graduate from high school), and that he did not hold any significant military or political positions prior to his appointment.
Aleppo Governorate – Azzam Gharib, also known as Abu Al-Izz. 39, from the town of Saraqib in Idlib province. He holds degrees in dentistry and Sharia law. Gharib is a former senior official in Ahrar al-Sham and until recently was the leader of Jabha al-Shamiya (part of the NFL, which operates under the SNA). He was detained by the Assad regime from 2003 to 2005, and after the outbreak of the civil war, he joined Ahrar al-Sham and later became one of the founders of Jabhat al-Shamiya.
Deraa Governorate – Muhammad Ibrahim al-Zouabi, from the city of Ezra. Al-Zouabi is a Forensic Doctor who fled with his family to the Idlib area during the civil war.
Homs Province – Dr. Abdul Rahman al-Ama, 37, from the city of Homs. Al-Ama is a veterinarian by education and holds degrees in business administration and in human resource management.
Prior to his appointment, he served as Minister of Development and Humanitarian Affairs in the “Salvation Government” from 2018 to 2021.
Suwayda District – At this stage, the government appointed Mustafa Bekhor from Adlib, who serves as the ’emissary of the leadership’ in the district, until the formal appointment of a governor. The leading candidate for the appointment to the position of governor is Muhsina al-Mahithawi, 54, from the village of Lubayn in Suwayda District. She holds a degree in economics and business administration, having previously served as a local bank manager and in a number of public positions in the field of economics in the district. In addition, she is as a prominent social activist. Al- Mahithawi, who is of Druze descent, is the first woman in Syria ever to be nominated for the position of governor of a province and her candidacy even won the support of the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Syria, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri. However, it is not clear whether she has been officially appointed to the position at this stage.
Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah and Raqqa Governorates – On January 7, after less than a month in office, the governor of the three provinces, Hussein a-Salameh, resigned from his position, due to a lack of interest in the position and due to the large number of tribes in the area and his preference for a military rather than a civilian position. Temporarily replaced by his deputy, Ghassan al-Sayed.