Senior Kurdish Official Warns: Centralized Rule in Syria Risks Civil War
"If Syria continues to face deeper crises, it is because the country’s rulers take decisions unilaterally, without coordination with the people, and they disregard the will of the population," Ahmed told attendees.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A prominent official from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) has warned that the Syrian government’s persistence in pursuing a centralized system of governance could plunge the country into a renewed civil war.
Ilham Ahmed, Co-Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Autonomous Administration, issued the stark warning during her remarks at an international conference held in Greece, titled “The Kurdish Issue and Developments in the Middle East.”
"If Syria continues to face deeper crises, it is because the country’s rulers take decisions unilaterally, without coordination with the people, and they disregard the will of the population," Ahmed told attendees.
Ahmed underscored that Damascus’ rejection of inclusive governance risks igniting another major internal conflict.
“If the Syrian government insists on maintaining a centralized governance system, the country is likely to descend into a major internal conflict,” she said. “There must be a broad democratic system that brings together all components of the society.”
Her remarks come amid ongoing debates over the future political structure of Syria, particularly in light of proposals for decentralization and greater autonomy in the Kurdish-majority regions of the country.
In contrast, Syrian Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa had reaffirmed his administration’s opposition to any division of power or territory.
Speaking on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, al-Sharaa emphasized national unity and the sacrifices made by Syrians during the country’s decade-long war.
“We will not allow Syria to be divided. Syria will never become a model for partitioning power,” President al-Sharaa declared, stressing that the return of authoritarian practices from the pre-war regime era would not be tolerated. “Syria belongs to all Syrians,” he added.
The remarks from both sides highlight the persistent tensions and ideological rifts shaping post-conflict governance in Syria, as competing visions for the country’s future continue to unfold.
