CIVICUS discusses the future of Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian regime with Alaaiddien Ayoub, founder and director of EPISA, a civil society organisation (CSO) that supports sustainable development, democratic approaches, peacebuilding processes and inclusion in Syria.
Since the fall of Assad’s government in December 2024, Syria has faced a critical period of transition. While the change in leadership has brought hope to many Syrians, there are also significant challenges. The new transitional government, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a coalition of northern Syria-based Sunni Islamist insurgent groups, faces the daunting task of rebuilding a country devastated by over a decade of civil war. Western states have expressed cautious support, stressing key conditions such as the protection of minority rights, the prevention of revenge violence and a clear path to democratic elections. However, concerns remain about the HTS’s Islamist origins.