The international community is pressing for a broad-based political transition in Syria that includes all regions, particularly the Kurdish-led northeast, following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
At a United Nations Security Council session on Friday, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen emphasised the need for inclusive governance to ensure a sustainable transition. He warned that excluding any community, including the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), could derail the political process. The AANES, governing northeast Syria (often called Rojava), operates a de facto autonomous system with a diverse population of Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians and others, advocating for a decentralised, democratic Syria.
The United States echoed this call, with Ambassador Dorothy Shea praising a 10 March agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the AANES’s military wing, and Syria’s interim authorities. The deal has fostered reconciliation in cities like Aleppo, Afrin, Deir ez-Zor and near the Tishreen Dam. Shea urged further steps to integrate all Syrian communities, suppress terrorism, and protect civil liberties, stressing the need for a unified government reflecting Syria’s ethnic and religious diversity.
Other global powers, including Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom, also backed inclusivity. Russia’s envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, highlighted the importance of engaging all groups, while China’s representative cited UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which calls for a Syrian-led political process. European nations emphasised rights protections and transitional justice for marginalised groups.
Syria’s interim Foreign Minister, Asaad Hasan Al-Shaibani, pledged to pursue national dialogue based on justice and unity. However, it remains unclear how the new leadership will engage with the AANES and other autonomous regions. Northeast Syria has maintained its governance model for over a decade, playing a key role in combating the Islamic State (ISIS) and establishing local administration.
With over 70 percent of Syrians requiring humanitarian aid and political divisions deepening, diplomats warned that excluding any group risks prolonged instability. “The Syrian people deserve a future where all communities can participate freely and equally,” Shea stated, noting the northeast’s contributions to fighting ISIS and building governance.
