Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa (right) and commander of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces Mazloum Abdi. (Via AP)
| Published April 29, 2025
In late April 2025, a significant political development unfolded in Syria as Kurdish political factions convened in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, to advocate for a decentralized, democratic state that ensures Kurdish rights and promotes national dialogue. This historic conference marked a concerted effort by Kurdish groups to unify their vision for Syria’s future governance.
However, the Syrian interim government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, swiftly rejected these calls for decentralization. The presidency emphasized that any move toward federalism or autonomy without national consensus threatens the country’s unity and territorial integrity.
This rejection highlights the ongoing tensions between Kurdish aspirations for self-governance and the central government’s commitment to a unified state. The situation remains complex, with regional dynamics and international interests influencing the path forward for Syria’s political landscape.
Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of the situation:
Pros of the Kurds’ Call for Decentralization
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Promotes Local Governance:
Decentralization could allow local communities — especially ethnic minorities like Kurds — to govern themselves more effectively, reflecting their cultural, political, and economic needs. -
Encourages National Dialogue:
Kurdish leaders emphasized that decentralization could foster a broader, inclusive conversation among all Syrian groups about the country’s political future. -
Potential for Stability in Kurdish Areas:
Autonomous governance could bring more stability and development to northeastern Syria, which has historically been marginalized. -
Democratic Reforms:
A decentralized system might introduce more democratic practices by distributing power away from a historically strong central authority.
Cons of the Kurds’ Call for Decentralization
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Threat to National Unity:
The Syrian government and many nationalists view decentralization as a first step toward partition, weakening the state’s territorial integrity. -
Risk of Civil Conflict:
Moves toward decentralization without broad agreement could ignite fresh tensions or conflicts between different ethnic, religious, and political groups. -
Foreign Interference:
Some worry that external powers might exploit local autonomy movements to increase influence in Syria’s internal affairs, destabilizing the country further. -
Resistance from Arab-majority Areas:
Many Arab Syrians, especially outside the Kurdish regions, might resist decentralization efforts they see as favoring one group over national identity.
Conclusion
The Kurdish call for decentralization in Syria highlights a deep and ongoing struggle between the desire for local autonomy and the government’s insistence on national unity. While decentralization offers a potential pathway to greater democracy, inclusion, and stability for marginalized groups, it also risks fracturing Syria’s already fragile territorial integrity and could lead to renewed conflict. Lasting solutions will likely require careful negotiation, genuine national dialogue, and mutual guarantees that protect both minority rights and the sovereignty of the Syrian state. Without such efforts, tensions between Kurdish aspirations and central government authority are likely to persist, keeping the dream of a stable and democratic Syria uncertain.
SOURCES: STRATFOR WORLDVIEW – Syria: Kurds Call for Decentralized State, Damascus Rejects It
THE JERUSALEM POST – Historic Kurdish conference paves way for unity in Syria – analysis
AL ARABIYA NEWS – Syria rejects Kurds’ call for decentralization
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