Syria's Sharaa declared president for transition, consolidating his power

30/1/2025 7:24

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa was declared president for a transitional phase and the constitution suspended on Wednesday, in moves that

tighten his hold on power less than two months after he led a campaign that toppled Bashar al-Assad.



Sharaa was also empowered to form a temporary legislative council for a transitional period, according to the announcements made during a meeting of armed groups in Damascus.



Sharaa, whose group was once an al-Qaeda affiliate, has been de facto leader since leading the offensive that deposed Assad after more than 13 years of civil war.



The decisions, which emerged from a conference that was not publicly announced, did not say when the new legislative body might be picked, or provide any new details for a timeline for the transition.