Can Syria's Interim Government Overcome Its Past Failures in Idlib?

 

Following the decline of the legitimate Syrian government, the SIG witnessed many problems in governing Idlib province in 2017. The area was characterised with conflict between the rebel groups including Ahrar al-Sham and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that negatively impacted on the governance efforts being fronted by the SIG. The absence of the SIG which fails to provide a crucial control necessary services left a political vacuum and was filled by the SSG supported by HTS.

Flash forward to December 2024, and the President of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad has been removed from power and the country has been through huge changes. New intermediate leaders – the former vice presidents and heads of state councils Ahmed Sheikh Sharawi and Muhammad Bashir – are now required to start the search for the path to restore and build a stable country. This leadership transition has attracted international consideration, and France, Britain, and Germany have started formal interactions.

Lack of faith in the inability of the interim government to manage the whole country is therefore pardonable having in mind the previous misdeeds done by the SIG in Idlib. However, there are signs that current authorities are consciously to rectify the previous errors. For example, the new administration in power has made pronouncements about its intent to promote humanitarian issues, preserve the integrity of human lives and provide human security including access to basic needs such as health care and education. Some of these pledges have been recognized by international organizations such as the United Nations.

The most relevant of them deems competence to be shown by the interim government in economic revitalization a critical area. The current acting minister of finance has presented a plan for transition to a free market economy, decontrol of imports and exports and prioritization on reconstruction spending. Its goals are to solve the problem of an economic crisis and rapidly growing unemployment in Syria. But the efficiency of these plans has definite dependence on the government’s capability to implement reforms successfully and to control the process of international relations including sanctions and foreign debts presence.

Another major issue is concerned the return and reintegration of Syrian refugees. The new Prime Minister has invited the refugees home saying that they will be encouraged to assist in rebuilding and will have freedom of religion in this new Syria. This is why the effectiveness of this initiative to deal with the returning citizens’ concerns and build their trust will be key to this country’s reconstruction.

The support they are formulating should demonstrate functionality among the interim government, different rebel factions, as well as, political parties. The previous administration is said to have also been torn apart by internal conflicts and perhaps lack of seriously coherent governance. The current form of leadership must ensure that there are cross-correlation, and one must allow everybody to participate in group discussions without fear of ridicule. Integration into a political system will be inevitable and it will mean communication with different groups of people including minorities and previous opponents.

Consequently, owing to previous errors made by the Syrian Interim Government in Idlib, the new interim authorities can understand these mistakes and develop appropriate complex plans and tactics for establishing efficient national governance. To achieve this they will need sound macro economic policies, social integration policies, international partnerships or diplomatic relations and capacity to mobilize the torn apart nation. The next few months will be very important to decide whether this interim government will be better from the previous one and can move Syria towards a better future.