Middle East

Who is al-Bashir, the new head of the Syrian government

A graduate in engineering and law, since January he has led the cabinet that administers the Idlib region

10 December 2024

Mohamed al-Bashir (Photo by Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP)

2' min read

Mohammed al-Bashir, leader of the 'Syrian Salvation Government' currently in power in the Idlib region, has been appointed to form a new government to manage the political transition in Syria. The news was given by the Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera in an Arabic-language programme.

The appointment is said to be the result of a meeting between Ahmed al-Shara, better known by his former nom de guerre Al-Jolani, and Muhammad al-Jalali, former prime minister under the previous regime. Al-Shara, once associated with the jihadist movement, has recently adopted his real name to emphasise a change of strategy and political perspective.

The information available on the future prime minister comes from the official website of the Salvation Government, which has published his CV in an infographic format. Born in 1983 in the northern province of Idlib, al-Bashir graduated in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Aleppo in 2007. He worked for the Syrian Gas Company as a plant manager until 2011, when the civil war profoundly transformed his career and political environment.

In 2021, he obtained a degree in Sharia and Law from the University of Idlib, consolidating his technical and legal profile. Subsequently, between 2022 and 2023, he was Minister of Development and Humanitarian Affairs in the government led by Ali Abdulrahman Keda. The latter was the fourth prime minister of the Salvation Government, a political formation representing the armed opposition in the Idlib region.

In January 2024, al-Bashir was elected prime minister by the Shura Council. His political agenda was characterised by a commitment to administrative modernisation, with a focus on e-government and automation of public services. He also promoted a favourable fiscal policy, reducing property taxes, reforming urban planning regulations and initiating an expansion of the Idlib city plan.

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The North-West Offensive

In November 2024, al-Bashir declared that the offensive launched in north-west Syria by Tahrir al-Sham (Hts) and other rebel groups was a response to government attacks against civilians. The campaign marked a significant escalation in the conflict, also bringing tensions to the Aleppo region.

On 4 December 2024, al-Bashir visited Aleppo to supervise the reopening of government offices. During the visit, he praised the administrative staff for resuming work despite the difficulties of the period, emphasising the importance of ensuring stability and continuity in public management.

The appointment of al-Bashir marks a new phase in Syria's complex political dynamic. It remains to be seen whether the new government will be able to navigate internal tensions and international pressure for a lasting solution to the crisis that has plagued the country for over a decade.