Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa Unveils Initial Government Overhaul Post-Assad Era

No official reason stated for the adjustments.

By REUTERS

MAY 10, 2026 07:30

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a batch of late-night presidential decrees outlining key government changes, according to state news agency SANA.

He selected Khaled Zaarour to serve as the new information minister, succeeding Hamza Mustafa, who shifted to the foreign ministry role.

Bassel Sweidan took on the agriculture minister position; he simultaneously chairs a committee negotiating settlement deals with prominent business leaders connected to the Assad regime's elite.

Al-Sharaa also ousted governors in the provinces of Homs, al-Quneitra, and Deir Ezzor - the eastern region hosting the bulk of Syria's oil fields.

No official reason given for changes

This reshuffle represents the first major adjustment since Bashar al-Assad's downfall, arriving about 18 months into the five-year transitional phase defined by Syria's constitutional declaration.

Authorities offered no formal justification for the moves, though recent months have seen protests and social media drives criticizing economic decline and subpar administrative performance.

In another change, al-Sharaa named a fresh secretary-general for the presidency, replacing his brother - a step that sparked accusations of nepotism from detractors prioritizing family ties over qualifications.