Syrian Transitional Government

AHMAD AL-SHARAA

“Victory is not merely an achievement, it is a responsibility.” (Inaugural address, 29 January 2025)

“We believe that no matter how great the challenges are, the will of the people is capable of overcoming them when they unite around a noble goal, an ambitious vision, and a clear plan.” (6 November 2025)

Ahmad al-Sharaa is the former rebel commander who led the opposition forces that overthrew the government of Bashir al-Assad in December 2024. He served as interim president from January 2025 and as president of the transitional government of Syria since its formation in March 2025. Upon forming the new government he declared, “A revolution is characterized by agitation and reactionary behavior, which may work for overthrowing a regime, but is not suitable for building one.”

Al-Sharaa was born in Saudi Arabia in 1982, where his father was working for a time as an oil industry engineer. His family had been forced to flee from the Golan Heights, where they had deep ancestral roots, when Israel occupied the land in 1967. His grandfather had owned a large tract of land where his father grew up, until the Six-Day war when the displaced residents scattered to different parts of Syria. 

Ahmad’s father, Husein al-Sharaa, born in 1946, was a political activist who was imprisoned for protesting the authoritarian Ba’athist party rule in the 1960s. He escaped to Jordan where he was also arrested, then exiled to Iraq where he graduated from the University of Baghdad with a B.S. degree in Economics and later earned a Ph.D. In 1971, Husein al-Sharaa returned to Syria and was imprisoned again for opposing the regime. In the late 70s he moved his family to Saudi Arabia where he worked in the Ministry of Oil for 10 years before returning to Syria in 1989, when Ahmad was seven years old. 

Ahmad al-Sharaa grew up in Damascus. He entered the University of Damascus as a student of media, then enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine for two years. From a young age, he was driven by a call to bring about justice for oppressed people. In addition to his family’s displacement from their land in the Golan Heights and his father’s resistance to autocratic rule, he said that his life choices were influenced by the Second Intifada—the Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule that began in September 2000. Before completing his medical degree, he left Syria to become part of the resistance to the US-led invasion of Iraq, where he joined both Al Qaeda and the predecessor of ISIS, both of which he later rejected. He was arrested and imprisoned in Iraq by the US military from 2006 to 2011.

Just as al-Sharaa was released from prison in 2011, the Syrian revolution began. He returned to his homeland where he formed a coalition of several opposition factions which in 2017 became Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the insurgent movement that led the resistance in northwest Syria. In the same year, the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) was established in Idlib province to administer and provide services for the population under siege in the opposition-held areas. Upon the overthrow of Bashir Assad in December 2024 by HTS, the SSG provided the infrastructure and model for the interim post-revolution government.

The Ministry of Administrative Development is responsible for the reform and modernization of public administration in Syria.

MOHAMMAD SKAF

“When we talk about administrative development in Syria, we are not talking about simplifying procedures or simply developing institutions, but about a qualitative shift in administrative culture and in public service, and our view of the citizen as a fundamental axis in everything we do.”

Minister Skaf, born in 1990, received a B.A. in Applied Mathematics and a Master’s Degree in Professional Management (with distinction) from Idlib University. 

Before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, he worked in the fields of electronics and engineering, contributing to local projects and businesses. He later held various administrative and financial positions in the Syrian Salvation Government, including as Administrative Oversight Committee member, Head of Budget Committee, Director of Fixed Assets, and Director of Human Resources Administration. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform is charged with expanding agricultural areas, providing government support to farmers, and developing infrastructure.

AMJAD BADR

Minister Badr has stressed the importance of continued coordination with international organizations and investors to implement sustainable agricultural projects that enhance farmers’ and breeders’ livelihoods, strengthen food security, and boost the national economy. (ICRC meeting/SANA)

Minister Badr, an agricultural economist, was born in 1969 to a Druze family in Suwayda Governorate. He earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from Damascus University and obtained both his master’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Aleppo.

Badr held various positions at Syria’s General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, including the Suwayda Research Center, and collaborated with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). He has a background in wheat productivity, the efficiency of irrigation technologies, water resource management, and sustainable agriculture. 

Minister Badr believes Syria’s agricultural sector can recover through the efforts of its people, through optimal investment of its abundant resources, and through cooperation with the private sector to raise the level of technology and innovation.

The Ministry of Awqaf [Endowments] is responsible for Islamic religious affairs and the administration of religious endowments.

MOHAMMAD ABU AL-KHAIR SHUKRI

“Preserving the religion of the people is like preserving their souls and preserving their health. The Ministry of Endowments is based on caring for the religion of the people through caring for scholars and supervising sharia institutes and … working to spread coexistence among the various segments of the Syrian people and consolidating the foundations of peace.”

Born in Damascus in 1961, Minister Shukri is an Islamic scholar, lawyer and university professor who has received multiple degrees in Islamic sciences, Islamic preaching and jurisprudence, plus a law degree.

Shukri is a well-known figure in Islamic academic circles, having taught Islamic theology and law at numerous academic institutions. He has also preached in major mosques, including the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.

Minister Shukri has also led, founded, and been on the boards of many religious and humanitarian organizations. A registered attorney with the Damascus Bar Association, he has been a legal as well as religious adviser to companies and organizations. 

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology handles the development of government telecommunications and information technology and enforcement of government policies.

ABDUL SALAM HAYKAL

“I am honored to take this responsibility … to develop the telecommunications and technology sector as a national necessity to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development, to improve the life of the Syrian citizenry, to achieve its security and digital security, and to strengthen the Syrian openness to the world.” 

Minister Haykal was born in Damascus in 1978. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the American University of Beirut and a master’s degree in international relations from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Haykal was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and received the Arab Thought Foundation’s Innovation Award.

Haykal has been an entrepreneur and founder of several companies in the fields of media, technology and knowledge-based services. He has also been a member of several boards of directors and advisory boards in numerous international organizations. 

The Ministry of Culture is responsible for preserving Syria’s cultural heritage, promoting cultural knowledge and awareness, overseeing cultural institutions, and facilitating international cultural diplomacy. 

MOHAMMED YASSIN SALEH

“When we say, ‘Damascus is ours,’ we mean that Syria is ours, and this is our mutual agreement. And when we say this, we mean that it is for all—race, religion, color. And from here the culture that we want begins.” 

“We are committed, God willing, to Syria regaining the place it deserves, to regaining its glory from a very distant time, before Christ, peace be upon him, and from the Middle East to the whole world.”

Minister Saleh was born in Qudsaya, Syria in 1985. He grew up in London where he earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from London Metropolitan University and a master’s degree in translation from the University of Westminster. 

As a journalist, Saleh focused on political and social issues in Syria. He contributed articles and features to several Arabic-language newspapers and online platforms, where he addressed topics such as governance, human rights, and cultural identity. He also became a broadcaster with Qatari-owned Al Jazeera where he was named Qatar’s ‘Eloquent Arab.’ While at Al-Jazeera, Saleh reported on critical developments in Syria, offering insights into the political and social dimensions of the civil war. He returned to Syria with the fall of the Assad regime. 

Saleh’s speech, as he took the oath of office, stressed the need for cultural policy to align with humanitarian priorities. He also called for engagement with Arab neighbors to dissolve barriers left by the former regime.

The Ministry of Defense oversees all military and defense-related affairs of Syria: command and administration of the armed forces, national defense policy, strategic planning, and coordinating with allies.

MURHAF ABU QASRA

“The Ministry of Defense emphasizes its firm commitment to the protection of the homeland and its sovereignty, based on the values of dignity, sacrifice and loyalty which have always been the focus of our fighters and our military units.”

Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra is a Syrian military officer with the rank of Major General. His mission as Minister of Defense is to restructure and manage military assets, while merging all former opposition factions into a single governmental institution to unify military operations in the new Syria.

Abu Qasra was born in Halfaya, Syria in 1984. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from Damascus University and pursued a master’s degree at Idlib University. He worked in the field of agricultural engineering until the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. 

With the escalation of conflict, he utilized his engineering expertise to support the opposition as a senior figure in Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and its Syrian Salvation Government. He served as military capabilities engineer, organizing the military, leading operations in opposition-held areas, and negotiating conflicts among factions. He was a principal strategist in the offensive that led to the fall of Assad.

The Ministry of Economy and Industry was established on 29 March 2025 with the merger of the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection. 

MOHAMMAD AL-SHAAR 

“We call on the international community to contribute to the revival of this country… Supporting the efforts to rebuild will not only be an economic investment, but also an investment in Syrian stability, regional and international stability, and peace.”

“Transparency and deliberation will be the cornerstone of our work in implementing the best use of available resources, guaranteeing local and international investments, and ensuring equal and fair economic freedom.”

Minister al-Shaar was born in 1956 in Aleppo and received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Aleppo. He later pursued advanced studies in the United States, obtaining a Master of Science in International Business from South Dakota State University, as well as a Master of Philosophy in Finance and International Investment, and a PhD in Economics from George Washington University. 

Al-Shaar’s professional experience spans the academic, financial, government and private sectors, both in Syria and abroad. He was a professor at the University of Aleppo’s Faculty of Economics and at George Washington University in the US. He served as Director of the Aleppo branch of Syria’s Central Bank and Secretary General of the Accounting and Auditing Organization of the former regime. In Washington, DC, he held senior positions at Fannie Mae and served as an advisor to the World Bank. He was also involved in financial and emerging markets in Dubai.

The Ministry of Education is responsible for education at the primary, intermediate and secondary levels. The Ministry of Higher Education is responsible for the higher levels.

MOHAMMAD ABDUL RAHMAN TURKO

“… education is a right for every Syrian child, and it is incumbent upon the state to ensure this right. The role of education and training is to build an effective individual—an effective individual in his family, society and state.”

Minister Turko was born to a Kurdish family in Afrin in northern Syria in 1979. He received a bachelor’s degree specializing in criminal law from Damascus University and received a PhD in law from Leipzig University in Germany. His academic focus included penal law, children’s rights, and child protection from violence. He is fluent in Kurdish and German, and proficient in English.

Turko has been a professor at Damascus University, at both the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Education. From 2022 to 2024 he was Vice-President of Damascus University for Administrative and Student Affairs. He was also a member of the academic staff at the Syrian Virtual University where he contributed to research on topics such as child protection, citizenship values in educational curricula, and human rights education.

The Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management was established on 29 March 2025 with the formation of the Syrian Transitional Government. The new minister and staff members were drawn from the White Helmets volunteer organization. In June 2025, the White Helmets’ personnel and equipment were transferred to the new ministry. 

RAED AL-SALEH  

“The road ahead of us is not easy and the challenges are great. But we learned from this revolution, from the sacrifices of the Syrians, and from our faith in God and our country, that the impossible does not exist when the national interest is the highest.” 

“The mission of this ministry is not limited to the urgent response to an occurrence but also includes the proper planning of response to natural and unnatural disasters in order to reduce the impact and … to protect the environment.”  

Minister al-Saleh was born in 1983 in Deraa, Syria. He holds bachelor’s degrees in business administration from Mardin Artuklu University in Türkiye and from the Arab Academy in Denmark. 

He had a business selling electrical equipment until the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, when he began organizing peaceful protests. When the Syrian Army entered Deraa, in June 2011, he was forced into hiding and went to Turkey. He returned to Syria at the end of 2012 and went to Idlib to do humanitarian work, helping refugees and people displaced by the civil war. 

In 2013, al-Saleh participated in founding the White Helmets, a volunteer rescue organization that served as the civil defense force in opposition-controlled areas in the north. He served as the organization’s director from 2013 until March 29, 2025, when he was appointed Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management in the transitional government. At that time the White Helmets’ work became integrated into the government.

In 2017, al-Saleh was selected among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine for his work with the White Helmets.

The Ministry of Energy is responsible for developing and implementing policies concerning petroleum and other energy resources. It was established on 29 March 2025 as the result of a merger between the Ministry of Electricity, the Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Water Resources.

MOHAMMAD AL-BASHIR 

“Energy is an essential need in society. It is one of the pillars of achieving economic growth and comprehensive development…  We must promote high quality services for all citizens in all of Syria, using modern and advanced methods and technologies.”

Minister Mohammad al-Bashir was born in Idlib in 1984 and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Aleppo in 2007. Later he received a degree in “Sharia and Law” and certifications in administrative organization and project management from Idlib University.

Al-Bashir worked at the Syrian Gas Company until the outbreak of the civil war when he became director of the Al-Amal Educational Institute, an organization providing education to children affected by the war. He served as director of various divisions of the Syrian Salvation Government and was elected prime minister in January 2024. As prime minister, al-Bashir signed a decree granting amnesty to prisoners who were not convicted of serious crimes.

The Ministry of Finance plans and implements the state’s financial policies and manages public debt in cooperation with the Central Bank of Syria.

MOHAMMAD YUSR BARNIYEH

“We will work to facilitate citizens, institutions and the labor market to carry out their transactions efficiently, easily, and to limit routine, corruption, and paperwork.”  

Mohammad Barniyeh, born in 1967, has served as Minister of Finance since 29 March 2025. He is an economist and policymaker who previously held senior positions in international financial institutions and played a key role in shaping Syria’s financial markets.

Barniyeh received a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Economics at Damascus University in 1990 and pursued graduate studies in economics at Kansas State University and Oklahoma State University in the US from 1990 to 1994. 

After interning at the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank in New York, Barniyeh joined the Arab Monetary Fund as an economist in 1996. Later he contributed to the establishment of the Syrian Securities and Financial Markets Commission as well as the Damascus Stock Exchange. He also held several positions at the Arab Monetary Fund from 2009 to 2024, including Director of the Department of Economic Policy where he advised Arab governments on financial reforms. 

Upon taking office, Minister Barniyeh outlined key priorities for financial reform, aiming to stabilize Syria’s financial system, eradicate corruption, and support long-term economic development.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates represents Syria’s interests in relations with other countries and international organizations, and represents the interests of Syrian citizens living abroad.

ASAAD AL-SHAIBANI

“The greatest victory for any people is not in defeating its enemies, but in its ability to rebuild its country based on stability and prosperity, to transform suffering into strength and determination, and to transform from a time of war into a time of peace and building.”  

“Our foreign policy … is one of profound vision and hard work to achieve justice and peace, and to rebuild our relations with the world based on mutual respect through an operation led by Syrians and owned by Syrians.”  

Minister al-Shaibani has served as minister of foreign affairs and expatriates since 21 December 2024.

Born in 1987, he grew up in Damascus and graduated from Damascus University with a degree in English Language and Literature. He also holds a master’s degree in political science, an MBA, and was completing a PhD in Political Science and International Relations before his appointment as minister. 

Al-Shaibani was an active participant in the Syrian revolution as a founding member of the Syrian Salvation Government in 2017. He worked on humanitarian issues and established the Department of Political Affairs, forming relationships with representatives of the United Nations, other major international organizations, and diplomatic officials. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he is instrumental in establishing the new Syria’s presence in the world as a strong, independent member of the international community.

The vision of the Syrian Ministry of Health is to: “Enhance the health of the population by improving health indicators and achieving equity in the distribution of standardized health services, in coordination with other sectors and entities.”

MUSAB NAZZAL AL-ALI

“Health care is not a privilege, but it is the right of every citizen.”  

Musab al-Ali, a Syrian-German neurosurgeon, has served as Minister of Health since March 29, 2025.

Born in 1985 in the eastern countryside of Syria, he received his medical degree from the University of Homs and joined the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Aleppo. His vocal support for the Syrian revolution led to his arrest in 2011 and exile to Germany, where he completed his specialization in neurological surgery. Al-Ali was an active member of the Syrian expatriate community and co-founded the Syrian Association in Germany. 

During Syria’s civil war, al-Ali was active in humanitarian efforts, helping to establish field hospitals and provide critical care in opposition-held areas. He also trained local medical teams in trauma care, particularly with war-related injuries, and contributed to health care delivery. As Minister of Health, he took part in an official visit to Germany where he met with Syrian doctors to focus on leveraging Syrian medical expertise in the diaspora, in order to strengthen the health care system within Syria.

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research designs and implements higher education policies, while the Ministry of Education is responsible for the lower levels of education.

MARWAN AL-HALABI

“The fate of a nation is linked to the success of its educational system, especially after the destruction of its institutions and decline of its human resources, as was caused in Syria by the previous regime.”  

Marwan al-Halabi, a gynecologist and academic, was born in southwestern Syria in 1964. He received multiple medical degrees, including an MD and master’s degree from Damascus University, plus several degrees from the University of Franche-Comté and Claude Bernard University in France. 

Minister al-Halabi is widely regarded as one of the country’s leading medical experts, with an extensive background that includes specializations in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology. He is also known as a prominent activist who played significant roles in movements opposed to the former Syrian regime. From the early stages of the revolution, he organized protests and advocated for democratic reforms.

In support of Syrian students returning from non-Syrian universities attended while in exile, his ministry reduced fees for the conversion of credits for several university specializations. This action supports the national policy of creating equal opportunities for all students.

The Ministry of Information is the central body for state media, handling official information and coordinating with press outlets. Since its takeover by the new leadership, it has been fostering freedom of expression and equal opportunities for all journalists.

HAMZA AL-MUSTAFA

“The need for a reliable and transparent official source of information is no longer a luxury, but rather an essential condition for building public opinion and regaining public trust… There is a need to confront misleading information and to form a trusted source that is truthful to the public.” 

“We will redefine the agency’s role and mission so that SANA [Syrian Arab News Agency] can return to being a comprehensive national news service, a transmitter of events, a mirror of society, and a source of reliable information about Syria, both locally and globally.”  

Hamza al-Mustafa, an academic and media executive, has served as Syria’s Minister of Information since March 29, 2025.

Born in 1985, al-Mustafa, holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the Damascus University and a PhD from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. According to the SANA Archive, he also “pursued a master’s degree in International Relations at Damascus University but was dismissed in 2012 due to his supportive stance toward the Syrian revolution.”  In his early career, he researched social and political issues related to Syria at the Doha Institute’s Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. He later worked at Al Araby TV Network in London and served as general director of Syria TV.

In his role as Information Minister, al-Mustafa represents the government’s interests in both domestic and international affairs. At meetings and conferences abroad, he has been vocal in supporting the new government’s diplomatic efforts, especially the lifting of international sanctions on Syria.

The Ministry of Interior is responsible for functions related to public security and order, civil administration, and law enforcement, including border control and counterterrorism.

ANAS HASAN KHATTAB

Statement to the Syrian people: “We will remain the vigilant eye to ensure your safety and security, establishing a stable reality where all Syrians enjoy dignity and freedom.” (Enab Baladi)

Minister Khattab, a former rebel commander, has served as Minister of Interior since March 29, 2025.

Khattab was born in 1987 in southwestern Syria, outside of Damascus. He studied architectural engineering at the University of Damascus, before leaving to join the insurgency in Iraq in 2008. 

He returned to Syria in 2011, becoming the administrative leader of Jabhat al-Nusra and a member of its Shura Council, the main decision-making, consultative and legislative body. He later served as deputy commander of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and headed its General Security Apparatus. After the fall of the Assad regime, Khattab served as the first director of the newly formed General Intelligence Service, before his appointment as Interior Minister. 

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for all judicial affairs, including implementing laws and supervising courts and judges. It is currently focused on achieving transitional justice, ensuring accountability for past human rights violations, and reforming the judicial system to gain public trust.

MAZHAR AL-WAIS

“Justice is the basis for the revival of the people and their progress.”  

“We ask God that we may see the banner of justice flying high in the sky of the homeland so that beneath it, the citizen can find trust and dignity.”  

Mazhar al-Wais, an Islamic scholar and former rebel leader, has served as Minister of Justice since March 29, 2025.

Born in 1980 in Deir Ez-Zor, eastern Syria, he studied medicine at Damascus University before switching to Islamic studies at the Al-Fath Islamic Institute, where he specialized in comparative jurisprudence.

In 2008, al-Wais was arrested by the Ba’athist intelligence services for promoting Islamist ideologies. Viewed as a threat by the Assad regime, he spent five years in Sednaya prison. After his release in 2013, he became head of the Sharia Authority in Eastern Syria. With the formation of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in 2017, he became a major religious figure in the group and led the Supreme Judicial Council of the Syrian Salvation Government.

The Ministry of Local Administration and Environment oversees local governance, urban planning, and environmental protection throughout the country.

MOHAMMAD ANJARANI

“We propose a modern strategic and organizational vision for Syria, which is based on global developments, and which is in line with our civilization, history and reality, and with the aspirations of our people.”  

Minister Anjarani, born in 1992, comes from Aleppo and received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Aleppo. 

He was active in the early stages of the Syrian revolution, organizing peaceful protests and publishing articles critical of the Assad regime’s policies. After being briefly detained for these activities in 2011 he became involved in governance and civil society efforts within the Syrian opposition. He held several major positions in the Syrian Salvation Government, including Chairman of the Central Control and Inspection Authority, Secretary General of the Ministry of Awqaf (Religious Affairs), General Manager of the Aleppo Region, and Minister of Local Administration and Environment, in 2023 and 2024, a role in which he serves within the new government.

The Ministry of Public Works and Housing oversees urban planning and construction, manages infrastructure projects and housing development, and works to provide affordable housing and regulate building standards. Its goal is to support reconstruction and sustainable urban development across Syria.

MUSTAFA ABDUL RAZZAQ

“We are facing a new phase of construction and development, and our success depends on your trust and cooperation. We will continue our efforts with full commitment and responsibility to ensure that the public sector and the housing sector are essential in the reconstruction.” 

Minister Razzaq, born in 1989 in Aleppo, received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Aleppo in 2011 and later received specialized diplomas in public administration, project management, and institutional development.

With extensive experience in the fields of engineering and administration, he held leadership positions and oversaw the implementation of infrastructure projects in northwestern Syria during the civil war. He was head of the General Directorate of Public Works and Roads in the Syrian Salvation Government.

In his speech upon becoming minister, Abdul Razzaq stated that the ministry would adopt sustainable urban planning frameworks in its reconstruction efforts and stressed the importance of fostering a favorable environment for partnerships with both local and international investors.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor is responsible for public sector employment, occupational health and safety, and development of social protection and social security systems, with an emphasis on care for the most vulnerable social groups.

HIND KABAWAT

“We aim in our new ministry to build a coherent society that strengthens social justice, which we have been missing for many years.”  

“We must gain confidence, and we must strengthen trust among us all, because we lost this trust for many years.”  

“No country can achieve peace and stability without women’s participation and empowerment.” (SANA 24 Sept 2025)

Hind Kabawat is a Syrian-Canadian educator, international legal counsel, conflict resolution expert, and civil activist. She has served as Minister of Social Affairs and Labor since March 29, 2025, the only woman and Christian in the transitional government. 

Born in India in 1974, Minister Kabawat grew up in Egypt and in London, where she attended the Lycée Francais Charles de Gaulle. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Damascus University and a law degree from Beirut Arab University. She also holds a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, plus certificates in Conflict Resolution and Strategic Leadership from the University of Toronto, and in Negotiation from Harvard University.

In 2004, Kabawat began serving as director of the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University in Virginia, and became director of Interfaith Peacebuilding at the Center in 2009, a post she held until 2025 when she joined the new Syrian government. Among her many varied positions, she was a visiting fellow at Harvard Law School and served as deputy head of the Syrian Negotiation Commission’s Geneva Office, and as a member of the World Bank’s Advisory Board.

With the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011, she played a prominent role in the Syrian opposition’s political negotiations. After the fall of the Assad regime, she became a member of the Preparatory Committee for the Syrian National Dialogue Conference in February 2025.

The Ministry of Tourism serves Syria’s restoration by developing strategies to attract visitors, restore historic sights, promote the nation’s cultural heritage, and by strengthening the industry’s structural and human resources.

MAZEN AL-SALHANI

“Tourism is the bridge connecting people and is a tool for sustainable development.” 

“Our vision for the future focuses on the transformation of Syria into a global tourist destination through the development of innovative tourist destinations and by providing a successful investment environment.”  

Mazen al-Salhani was born in Damascus in 1979. He received a postgraduate diploma in business administration from the Great Lakes College of Science and Technology in Ontario, Canada, as well as a Master of Science in Project Management from Westcliff University in California, USA.

He has been the board chairman of several companies and helped establish and manage many tourism and commercial projects in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Algeria and Syria. In his first remarks after assuming office, al-Salhani emphasized his vision of transforming Syria into a global tourism destination.

The Ministry of Transport is responsible for developing and regulating the country’s transportation infrastructure, including roads, railways, aviation, and maritime sectors.

YA’RUB SULEIMAN BADR

“It is impossible to imagine a prosperous society without the movement of its people from one place to another to meet different needs. It is also impossible to imagine any economy without the movement of goods from production sites to consumption sites.

For this reason, our vision is based on the promotion of national transportation services to all citizens in a way that is in line with the development of income and in line with the global standards for sustainable development.”

Minister Badr, born in 1959 to an Alawite family, is one of four ministers from an ethnic minority in the new administration. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Lattakia (1982) and a PhD in Transportation Sciences from France’s National School of Bridges and Roads (ENPC) in Paris (1991). He was a professor of civil engineering at Tishreen University in Latakia for many years.

Badr served as the Minister of Transport in the former regime from 2006 to 2011, making his experience and background valuable to the new government. During his tenure, notable improvements were made in road safety. Badr also served as Regional Advisor on Transport and Logistics with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and held other notable positions in the field of transport. 

His focus as minister includes modernizing and rehabilitating Syria’s transport infrastructure amid the challenges posed by years of conflict.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports was newly formed on 29 March 2025. It was established in response to long-standing demands for the creation of a dedicated body to address youth affairs, and to end the dominance of the previous regime’s “General Sports Federation.” 

MOHAMED SAMEH HAMOUD

“Sport is not just an activity, but it is a means of strengthening national unity, strengthening moral values, contributing to social and economic development, and strengthening peace and stability.”

“The development of Syrian sport requires a comprehensive vision that combines strategic planning and investment in the sports field as well as the qualification of the staff… to guarantee transparency and independence in the sports administration.” 

Minister Hamoud, a noted sports official, is the inaugural head of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Born in Idlib in 1979, he earned certification in basketball coaching and arbitration and is well known for his long involvement in Syrian sports. 

Hamoud began his career as a basketball player and led the national basketball team to qualify for the second window of the Asian Cup in Qatar in 2011. His career progressed to officiating, coaching and managing several clubs. 

He was Director of the General Directorate of Sports and Youth in the Syrian Salvation Government (2021–2024), where he played a role in rehabilitating the municipal stadium in Idlib and founded sports federations for team and individual sports. In 2024 he served as Chairman of the General Sports Federation before his appointment to the new ministry. 

The role of Ambassador to the United Nations, formally known as the Permanent Representative, involves diplomacy, negotiation and policy advocacy. Ambassador Olabi holds the additional title of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, the highest UN diplomatic rank, signifying that he acts with the full authority of the head of state.

IBRAHIM OLABI

“The battle in December 2024 which liberated the country was achieved through unparalleled organization, remarkable discipline, immense sacrifice, and a clear methodology that prevented bloodshed, preserved lives, and restored the country to a victory devoid of vengeance.” (Speech to UN Security Council, YouTube)

“We will…speak of a people who have transformed their rich history and painful past into fuel for the future.” (Speech to UN Security Council, YouTube)

Ambassador Olabi is a human rights lawyer who was born in 1993 to parents who fled the Assad regime. He grew up in Saudi Arabia and Britain where he obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the law from the University of Manchester and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Oxford.

Olabi was an activist in the Syrian diaspora. While in law school, he drafted guidance on the law of armed conflict for Syrian rebels. In 2014 he co-founded the British-based Syrian Legal Development Program which focused on human rights work in Syria. He also served on the board of the Syrian British Consortium which promoted policies addressing the root causes of the Syrian crisis before the UK government. He participated in various legal efforts to hold the Assad regime accountable for human rights violations and to provide protection for factions involved in the civil war. He has held positions with different countries in the field of international law and human rights.

After the fall of Assad, Olabi returned to Damascus and became special adviser to the Foreign Ministry on legal matters. In August 2025 he was appointed Ambassador to the UN.