In a recent interview with an Arabic media outlet named Alyaum TV, Mazloum Abdi, General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), called on all Syrians, including in the regions governed by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), to unite in shaping an inclusive pluralistic Syrian Republic. His statements align with earlier appeals from leading political figures in the region such as Ilham Ahmed, Salih Muslim, and Aldar Xelil, who have championed inclusivity and dialogue as pillars for Syria’s future.
Abdi stressed that the transition process in Damascus requires the active participation of all Syrian provinces and opposition groups, particularly those who played a role in toppling the Assad regime. He emphasised that these groups must now prioritise inclusivity and collaboration over division:
“The Syrian people must ask for dialogue and for the participation of all the people’s representatives in a political process to build a new Syria.”
Highlighting the sacrifices made by the SDF and the diverse communities of the AANES, Abdi called on the people of North and East Syria—Kurds, Arabs, Christians, Syriacs, and Assyrians—to preserve the gains achieved during the fight against ISIS and authoritarianism of Ba’ath regime:
“The Syrian people in these areas have to preserve the achievements that we have achieved together with the blood of our people in the past 10 years.”
The SDF commander also urged all opposition groups to approach the new governance framework in Damascus with a spirit of unity, underscoring the need to avoid fragmentation and sectarianism. Instead, he called for a collective effort to represent the aspirations of all Syrians in building a participatory and inclusive nation.
While Abdi’s comments were delivered in an interview, they align with earlier remarks made by Ilham Ahmed, Salih Muslim, and Aldar Xelil, who have repeatedly emphasised the importance of decentralisation and democratic principles in any new governance structure for Syria.
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Abdi concluded by urging Syrians to unite around the existing institutions in North and East Syria and form a cohesive delegation to participate in the rebuilding process:
“In order for us to be united and to form a unified delegation to represent this region in the north and east of Syria, the Syrian people have to gather around the forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces and preserve the existing institutions.”
