The Kurdish autonomous administration controlling large territories in northern and northeastern Syria contested the legitimacy of the new government formed by the Islamist coalition that overthrew Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
The administration stated that the new government mirrors its predecessor by failing to consider the Syrian diversity.
“A government that does not reflect the country’s diversity and plurality cannot manage Syria effectively,” the administration added. “Therefore, we do not recognise or intend to implement the decisions made by this government.”
Ahmad al-Chareh, who took power leading an Islamist coalition on 8 December, expressed his desire to build a strong and stable state during a speech at the government’s announcement ceremony on Saturday.
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The 23-member cabinet, predominantly composed of Sunni Arabs, includes only one Kurdish minister who does not come from territories controlled by the autonomous administration.
In mid-March, the Kurdish administration reached an agreement with al-Chareh’s authority to integrate its institutions into the state. The new government aims to complete the unification process after more than 13 years of war that has torn Syria apart.
However, some analysts fear the agreement may remain ineffective, as the Kurds—comprising 15% of the population—have already criticised the constitutional declaration granting full powers to the president for a transitional period of five years.
