Until recently he was prime minister in the rebel stronghold of Idlib, and is now taking over all of Syria. Transitional Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir's task is downright suicidal. What is known about him.
His mission is infinitely complex - to unite and pacify a country that has experienced almost 14 years of civil war and a terrorist regime. A country in which there are various religious groups and until now it was under the strong external influence of Russia and Iran. Mohammed al-Bashir will have to deal with all these challenges after assuming the functions of prime minister in the transition period, writes ARD.
Until recently, al-Bashir headed the government in the rebel stronghold of Idlib in the northwest of the country. It was appointed by the Islamist group “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham“ (HTSH). It was under her leadership that the fighters captured Damascus and overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. Now the Islamists have chosen Al Bashir, who is an engineer by profession, as the transitional prime minister of the country, informed the German public-law media.
First Minister of Development, then Prime Minister
Al Bashir was born in 1983 in Idlib province. He studied electrical engineering at the University of Aleppo, as well as Islamic and civil law in Idlib, after which he worked for the state gas company of Syria.
After the civil war that began in 2011, his home region became the last bastion of armed opponents of the government. The HTS militias and their affiliated groups control the area. In 2017, the Islamists formed a “government of salvation”, in which Al Bashir began his political career – first he is the Minister of Development, and since January – Prime Minister.
His government in Idlib has its own ministries, as well as justice and security services. It also takes care of serving the population cut off from the state infrastructure in the opposition areas.
In front of him are “huge“ challenges
In Syria, there are numerous groups with different interests and goals, which also receive support from various forces inside and outside the country. And the management of the disunited country cannot be compared to the management of a rebel region with five million inhabitants, writes ARD.
According to expert Radwan Ziadeh from the Arab Center in Washington, the challenges that the new transitional prime minister of Syria will face are “enormous”.
Al Bashir called on his compatriots to return
But what does Mohammed al-Bashir himself say? In his first interview in his new role with TV “Al Jazeera“ he stated that his task was “a big challenge” and added that the time has come for the Syrian people to “enjoy stability and peace”.
In an interview with the Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera“ the new prime minister called on Syrians from all over the world to return to their homeland. “My appeal is to all Syrians abroad: “Syria is now a free country that has restored its pride and dignity. Come back!“.
The leader of the rebels, Al-Jolani, for his part, told Sky News TV the following: “The country will go towards development and recovery. It is moving towards stability”. According to him, people are exhausted and do not want to fight new wars.