New Syrian Cabinet and Governor Appointments: Translation & Overview

For some weeks now, there have been rumours of some impending changes within the Syrian government. Today, Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa issued a number of decrees announcing new appointments for some ministerial and governor positions. What is the significance of these new appointments?

An overview of the decrees illustrates that the shifts announced are not as sweeping as some observers had expected. A more optimistic reading was that the new appointments would make governance more representative and diverse, go beyond Sharaa’s loyalist base and appeal to the country’s minorities. I personally was skeptical that any of the upcoming changes would be so fundamental. This skepticism was warranted.

Indeed, as is readily apparent, Sharaa’s closest associates from his days as leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) still control the most important portfolios in government: namely, the Interior Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Justice Ministry. However, Sharaa has sought to address criticism of family nepotism in the new government, hence the removal of his brother Maher as secretary general of the presidency.

Beyond this point, however, the new appointments do not really signal a shift to governance representing a more diverse and larger constituency in Syria. In fact, most of them had some involvement with the HTS-backed Salvation Government and similar institutions that administered and controlled Idlib and its environs in northwest Syria prior to the overthrow of the regime:

. Abd al-Rahman Badr al-Din al-‘Ama (Maher’s replacement) was minister of development and humanitarian affairs in the Salvation Government.

. Murhaf Khalid al-Na‘asan worked in HTS’ security apparatus.

. Ziyad Fawaz al-‘Ayesh was once head of civil affairs in the Salvation Government’s Interior Ministry.

. Ghassan Elias al-Sayyid Ahmad was honoured by the Salvation Government for his role in supporting victims of the earthquake that affected northwest Syria in 2023.

. Basil Hafiz al-Suwaydan served as head of the money and consumer protection foundation in Idlib.

Below are the presidential decrees announcing the new appointments.

In accordance with the rulings of the constitutional declaration, the president of the republic decrees the following:

1. Abd al-Rahman Badr al-Din al-‘Ama is appointed secretary general of the republic’s presidency.

2. This decree is to be conveyed to those who must implement it.

Ahmad al-Sharaa
President of the Syrian Arab Republic

Damascus- 9 May 2026

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In accordance with the rulings of the constitutional declaration, the president of the republic decrees the following:

1. Khalid Fawaz Za‘rur is appointed information minister.

2. Everything contrary to the rulings of this decree is annulled.

3. This decree is to be conveyed to those who must implement it.

Ahmad al-Sharaa
President of the Syrian Arab Republic

Damascus- 9 May 2026

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In accordance with the rulings of the constitutional declaration, the president of the republic decrees the following:

1. Basil Hafiz al-Suwaydan is appointed minister of agriculture.

2. Everything contrary to the rulings of this decree is annulled.

3. This decree is to be conveyed to those who must implement it.

Ahmad al-Sharaa
President of the Syrian Arab Republic

Damascus- 9 May 2026

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In accordance with the rulings of the constitutional declaration, the president of the republic decrees the following:

1. Ghassan Elias al-Sayyid Ahmad is appointed governor of al-Qunaytra.

2. This decree is to be conveyed to those who must implement it.

Ahmad al-Sharaa
President of the Syrian Arab Republic

Damascus- 9 May 2026

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In accordance with the rulings of the constitutional declaration, the president of the republic decrees the following:

1. Murhaf Khalid al-Na‘asan is appointed governor of Homs.

2. This decree is to be conveyed to those who must implement it.

Ahmad al-Sharaa
President of the Syrian Arab Republic

Damascus- 9 May 2026

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In accordance with the rulings of the constitutional declaration, the president of the republic decrees the following:

1. Ahmad Ali Mustafa is appointed governor of Latakia.

2. This decree is to be conveyed to those who must implement it.

Ahmad al-Sharaa
President of the Syrian Arab Republic

Damascus- 9 May 2026

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In accordance with the rulings of the constitutional declaration, the president of the republic decrees the following:

1. Ziyad Fawaz al-‘Ayesh is appointed governor of Dayr al-Zur.

2. This decree is to be conveyed to those who must implement it.

Ahmad al-Sharaa
President of the Syrian Arab Republic

Damascus- 9 May 2026

Published originally on May 9, 2026.