Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara appoints former SDF commander Mazloum Abdi as adviser

Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara has appointed former Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi as a presidential adviser. This appointment was made on Thursday evening, following the dissolution of the SDF days prior. The SDF, a US-backed group, had been instrumental in the fight against ISIS. Abdi's new role is less significant than his previous one with the SDF, but he is among several senior Kurdish figures appointed to state positions.

Sipan Hamo, the former commander of the People's Protection Units (YPG), was recently named Deputy Defence Minister. The Kurdish political wing of the SDF, the Syrian Democratic Council, is reportedly set to see one of its members, Ilham Ahmed, join parliament. Hind Kabawat, the Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, congratulated Ahmed on her appointment.

The dissolution of the SDF followed an agreement signed in January, mediated by the US and France and later endorsed by Turkey. This agreement aimed to end hostilities between Kurdish forces and the Syrian government, which had resulted in the cession of large areas of territory to the Kurds. In January, President Al Shara also recognized Kurdish as a national language and granted Syrian nationality to previously stateless Kurds.

A plan has been announced by the Syrian Education Ministry, making it mandatory for schools in Kurdish-majority areas to teach the language three times a week.