A year has passed since the Islamist HTS militia led by Ahmed al-Sharaa and its allies toppled former Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, whose clan had governed the country for 50 years and plunged it into a prolonged civil war. In a speech marking the anniversary of Assad’s fall, interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa has called on Syrians to unite. Europe’s press takes stock.
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Dependent on radicals
SRF Middle East correspondent Thomas Gutersohn analyses the situation:
“In the ‘new Syria’, for the first time citizens have the chance to speak openly about their needs and concerns – something that would have been unthinkable during the Assad era. However, most political decisions are still made by a small committee of former rebel leaders. … This has led to several waves of violence across the country. … Clearly, Ahmed al-Sharaa is not sitting firmly enough in his saddle to take action against the most radical among his followers.”
Support despite scepticism
Politiken says the West should support the new government, but voices certain reservations:
“After all, he [al-Sharaa] is a former Islamist terrorist who was once on the wanted list. And the West has a long and dark history of supporting strong leaders in the Middle East who came to power through violence. But in the case of Syria and President al-Sharaa, support and recognition are currently the right course of action. The new rulers in Syria have proven to be more moderate than most expected. … What is worrying is that Sharaa’s transitional government is dominated by Sunni Muslims.”
Catastrophic conditions for returnees
Der Tagesspiegel comments:
“Around 16 million people in Syria are dependent on aid – that’s two-thirds of the population. Seven million are still displaced within the country. There are shortages of everything, from adequate housing to practical support. At the beginning of December, only 30 percent of the funding for the international plan for humanitarian aid for Syria in 2025 had been raised. The humanitarian and economic situation in the country is catastrophic. How are returning refugees supposed to build a new life in their old homeland under these conditions? … If people consider returning despite this, then the international community should play a greater role than it has done so far.”