Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who has reverted to his original name Ahmed al-Sharaa, was appointed Syria’s interim president on January 29. Jolani, who leads the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group formerly affiliated with Al Qaeda, played a key role in the swift takeover of Syria in early December, bringing an end to the decades-long rule of the Assad family.
Jolani faces the complex task of uniting Syria’s fragmented political factions and restoring ties with international actors, which have been strained by years of conflict. Another challenge is to rebuild the war-torn economy.
To bolster his legitimacy, Jolani is actively seeking to distance himself from his militant past; he has discarded his combat attire and has begun talking to foreign diplomats. This strategic shift has yielded some results: the United States recently announced the cancellation of a $10 million bounty on his head, and has eased certain humanitarian restrictions. Similarly, the European Union, too, has lifted certain sanctions against him.
A major decision by the new administration has been the announcement that HTS and other armed groups will be disbanded, with their members integrated into a unified military under government control. In a sweeping move, the remnants of the Assad-era constitution, legislature and army have been dissolved. Jolani has pledged to establish an interim legislative council during the transitional period until a new constitution is put in place.
However, other challenges remain, particularly concerning the extent of Jolani’s support across Syria and the reconciliation of HTS’s Islamist roots with the country’s predominantly secular population.
In his inaugural address, Jolani emphasised inclusivity, making it clear that the transitional phase would involve consultations with Syrians from all walks of life. He made a pledge to prioritise national unity, foster institutional development and initiate economic recovery.
Jolani appears to have gained significant acceptance among regional leaders. Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, made a historic visit to Damascus on January 30, becoming the first head of state to travel to Syria since the fall of the Assad regime. The visit highlighted the interest of powerful Gulf rulers in shaping a post-Assad Syria under Jolani’s leadership. Other influential regional figures, including Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum have extended their congratulations to Jolani on his new role.
For Saudi Arabia, recent developments have provided a crucial opportunity to reassert influence in both Syria and Lebanon, two countries where it largely lost out to Iran in the past decade. The Gulf monarchies appear to be disregarding past worries about grassroots Islamist movements. Jolani, meanwhile, chose Saudi Arabia as his first foreign destination after taking over as president. He flew to Riyadh on February 2 and held extensive discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This was followed by a trip to Turkey on February 4.