On Tuesday, in a televised speech, Mohamed al-Bashir announced that he will serve as the prime minister of the interim government in Syria until March 1, 2025. Al-Bashir is a representative of the Syrian rebels, who on Sunday announced the capture of Damascus and the end of the 50-year rule of the Assad family.
Mohammed al-Bashir, the new prime minister of Syria's interim government, is linked to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), whose forces entered Damascus at the weekend. On Monday, former Prime Minister Muhammad al-Jalali handed over power to the leadership of the rebel group.
In the past, this 41-year-old politician held various positions in the “secret” structures of the Syrian state, established by or around the HTS. Among others, he was the director of Muslim education in the ministry responsible for observing Islamic standards. He is an engineer by profession.
Muhammad al-Basir Umar Haj KADOUR/AFP/East News
What is happening in Syria?
There is currently no official information about what the transitional government in Syria will be, what form it will take and who will be represented in it. Currently, the headquarters of the Syrian National Government is located in Idlib, which is located about 65 kilometers southwest of Aleppo. According to experts, the speed and effectiveness of the HTS attack on the country's capital surprised the rebels themselves.
Professor Stephen Zunes of the University of San Francisco told Al Jazeera Qatar TV that the new cabinet will likely prioritize the consolidation of newly acquired territories, the transformation of state institutions and the return of Syrian refugees and displaced persons.
Over the weekend, Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for almost a quarter of a century, fled the country's capital, Damascus. He and his family found refuge in Russia, where they all received asylum thanks to Vladimir Putin's personal decision. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the news on Monday.
Since the fall of the Assad regime, tens of thousands of people, including women and children, have been released from prisons across Syria. Syrian prisons are known for their brutality and inhumane conditions. Opponents of the dictatorship were arrested there.
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Main photo: OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP/East News
