New Era for Syria? Interim President Calls for Unity Amid Controversial Dialogue Conference

The national dialogue conference in Damascus convened by Syria's interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa has sparked hopes for reconstruction after Assad's regime. Yet, criticisms arise over the exclusion of Kurdish-led forces and concerns about the pace of reforms.

In a significant move for the future governance of Syria, interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa praised the nation’s "historic" chance to rebuild following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. Speaking at a national dialogue conference in Damascus, Sharaa emphasized the necessity for armed groups to integrate into a unified military structure, stressing that Syria's resilience hinges on its unity.

The conference, featuring 600 delegates, aims to generate recommendations covering key issues such as transitional justice, economic revival, and the crafting of a new constitution, all intended to provide a roadmap for a soon-to-be-established transitional government. Nevertheless, the process has met with skepticism; notably, the Kurdish-led militia alliance and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria were notably excluded from the discussions.

For over half a century, the Assad family ruled Syria with an authoritarian grip, with Bashar ascending to the presidency in 2000. The civil unrest in 2011 triggered a violent crackdown from Assad’s regime, igniting a civil war that has resulted in over 600,000 deaths and displaced 12 million Syrians.

After an impressive military offensive culminated in Assad fleeing to Russia, Sharaa was designated as president for the transitional period and pledged to convene this national dialogue to explore the nation's future. He declared that a constitutional declaration would follow as part of essential steps toward institutional reforms.

"This is a rare opportunity that we must fully leverage for the benefit of our people," Sharaa told attendees. Following the conference, six working groups are set to address issues ranging from state reforms to personal freedoms, forming non-binding recommendations for the transitional government that will soon assume power.

In his remarks, Sharaa reiterated the importance of disarming non-state armed groups, positioning it as both a duty and a necessity. The interim government has control over major urban centers, yet significant territories remain under the sway of various armed factions, including the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has yet to agree to integrate into the new military.

Although organizers stated that the SDF's absence from the dialogue was due to their refusal to disarm, representatives from the SDF contended that this exclusion indicates the conference serves external interests rather than the demands of the Syrian populace. Critics argue that marginalizing vital communities like the SDF hampers any meaningful progress in addressing Syria's ongoing crisis.

Moutasem Sioufi from an independent civil society group called for inclusive dialogue, stressing the critical need to engage all influential groups for genuine unity.

The international community is closely monitoring the outcomes of this conference, with calls for a comprehensive political process reflecting Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious demographics. While sanctions have been partially lifted to assist in humanitarian efforts, the EU and other Western powers have indicated their support will depend on the new leadership respecting minority rights and fostering democratic principles.

Syria now stands at a crossroads, as the transitional process unfolds amid scrutiny and the potential for greater inclusivity remains a pressing challenge.