Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has been appointed president for a transitional phase, during which the country’s constitution has been suspended, according to the state-run Syrian news agency (SANA). Al-Sharaa has also been granted authority to establish a temporary legislative council, which will function until a new constitution is drafted and implemented. The decision marks a significant shift in Syria’s governance following the removal of President Bashar al-Assad last month.

The announcement was delivered by Hassan Abdel Ghani, spokesperson for the military operations sector of Syria’s new government. In his statement, Abdel Ghani declared the dissolution of all armed factions within the country, stating that these groups would now be absorbed into state institutions. He also announced the disbandment of the former regime’s army, security agencies, and the long-ruling Baath Party, which had dominated Syria’s political landscape for decades.

These decisions were made during a high-level meeting in Damascus involving various armed factions that had participated in the swift offensive leading to al-Assad’s downfall. Since assuming power, al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group has taken control of the interim government, largely composed of officials from the local administration it previously governed in Idlib province. Al-Sharaa has committed to a political transition process that includes a national conference, the formation of an inclusive government, and eventual elections, which he estimates may take up to four years.

The transitional presidency could open the door for the international community to lift sanctions, which would be crucial for the country’s economic recovery.