Syria’s current administration has abolished the constitution and disbanded the Ba’ath Party, the political party of former President Bashar al-Assad, who fled amidst a rebel offensive. Additionally, all armed groups, including Syria’s military and security forces, have been dissolved. This was reported by Al Jazeera on Wednesday, January 29.
According to the report, two months after Bashar al-Assad was ousted, former opposition commander Ahmed al-Sharaa has been appointed as Syria’s interim president. Syrian state media announced this decision, signaling a significant transitional period for the nation.
Osama Bin Javaid, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Damascus, stated, “This is a historic day. It brings clarity to the nation’s path forward, ending uncertainties about the new administration.”
The state-run news agency SANA reported that Commander Hassan Abdel Ghani confirmed al-Sharaa’s appointment as interim president until elections are held. Al-Sharaa has also been authorized to form a temporary legislative council responsible for overseeing governance until a new constitution is adopted.
Alongside the constitution, the Ba’ath Party, which ruled Syria for over 60 years, and all military groups, including al-Sharaa’s own faction, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have been disbanded. This marks a significant shift in the country’s political and military landscape.
The announcements were made during a meeting in Damascus, attended by commanders from armed groups that collaborated with al-Sharaa’s HTS in ousting Assad on December 8.
Osama Bin Javaid further reported, “Al-Sharaa tried to assure these groups that they would not only be represented but would also play a vital role in the creation of a new Syria.”
However, the timeline for elections in Syria remains unclear, as no official schedule has been set. Al-Sharaa previously mentioned that organizing elections in the war-torn country could take up to four years.
In an interview with Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya in December, al-Sharaa stated that drafting a new constitution could take three years. He emphasized that meaningful elections would require a nationwide census to determine the number of eligible voters, a process that could take additional time.
This transitional phase marks a crucial step for Syria as it seeks to rebuild its political and social structures after years of conflict.