French Senate: Syria still faces major challenges

The Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee of the French Senate stated that Syria continues to face complex political and security challenges despite the changes that followed the fall of the Baath regime, noting that the country stands at a crossroads amid the difficulties of reconstruction and achieving lasting stability.

In a statement issued to mark the launch of a parliamentary mission on Syria's reconstruction, the committee said that the new authorities, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, remain highly centralized around him and his close circle, despite the constitutional declaration and the establishment of institutions with a democratic character.

The committee added that the government's calls for reconciliation and national unity have not prevented sectarian violence, pointing to the killing of more than 1,000 Alawites in March 2025, followed by deadly attacks targeting the Druze in July of the same year.

It also said that although the government has declared that it has abandoned its former "jihadist" ideology, it still includes hardline members accused of committing abuses, raising questions about its ability to enforce security and uphold the rule of law.

The committee noted that North and East Syria remains one of the key unresolved issues despite the ceasefire agreement signed on January 30, 2026. It said the Syrian authorities' commitment to involving the Kurdish population and guaranteeing their rights will remain under close scrutiny.

The committee also expressed concern about the future of the Christian presence in Syria, stressing that the consequences of war, along with sectarian and ethnic divisions, continue to pose major obstacles to the country's stability and reconstruction.

ANHA