Politicians assert that Damascus evades from implementing March 10 Agreement

Questions continue to grow across the Syrian political landscape regarding the reasons behind the interim government's procrastination in implementing the March 10, 2025 agreement, which was signed between Mazloum Abdi, the General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, and Ahmad al-Shar’a, head of the Interim Government.

Months after the agreement which set the end of the current year as a final deadline for implementation little progress has been made. The interim government in Damascus has yet to take concrete steps toward fulfilling the core provisions of the agreement: involving all Syrians in the political process, guaranteeing the constitutional rights of the Kurdish community, enforcing a ceasefire, and preparing conditions for the return of displaced people.

No significant measures have been recorded toward integrating the civil and military institutions of North and East Syria into the state’s administration, amid political and administrative obstacles hindering the work of the executive committees.

This slow pace by the interim government has raised questions among political and civil circles. Many believe that continuous delays could re-ignite tensions and threaten prospects for stability in the country.

In this context, ANHA agency conducted a series of interviews with politicians and community figures regarding the March 10 Agreement and the reasons behind the challenges facing its implementation.

Sherin Dawoud Abbas, a member of the Relations Office of the Democratic Green Party, stated:

"The agreement has not been implemented so far due to several factors, the most prominent of which is Turkey’s interference in the decisions of the interim government, because the agreement stipulates securing the rights of all components something that contradicts Turkey’s interests."

She added that the interim government delays implementation for two main reasons:

"First, it seeks to prove itself before the international community; second, it attempts to buy time in order to strip the revolution of its essence."

For his part, Fahd al-Sheikhan, representative of the al-Sadah al-Sheikhan tribe, said:

"The March 10 Agreement represents an important opportunity for the country to move toward a positive turning point. But unfortunately, the interim government in Damascus continues to stall its implementation due to internal and external factors, including the influence of foreign states on its decision-making."

He added that this procrastination has:

"Led to the unrest currently witnessed in Homs, as well as earlier events in the coastal region and Sweida."

He stressed that: "The interim government must accelerate implementation of the agreement because it represents a lifeline for Syria."

He noted that the interim government in Damascus:

"Fears its rule will be weakened, as it follows an approach almost identical to that of the Baath Partya centralized system that concentrates all powers under its control. Meanwhile, a decentralized system is the best option for Syria given its ethnic, national, and religious diversity."

Sivan Ebo, a member of the Armenian Social Council, said that the March 10 Agreement:

"Has a direct impact on Syrian-Syrian dialogue between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the interim government."
She pointed out that:

"Following the agreement, we observed evasiveness from the interim government, stemming from its fears of the demands of the peoples of North and East Syria."

Ebo affirmed that over the past 14 years, "Syria has witnessed fundamental transformations. During this period, the Autonomous Administration has proven its ability to present a successful democratic and decentralized model that grants all components their rights and enables them to govern themselves."

She concluded: "The government fears losing its centralized authority, whereas the system proposed by the Autonomous Administration represents a democratic advancement for all of Syria."

Amid this political stagnation, Syria has recently witnessed widespread demonstrations in parts of the coastal region. Protesters called for adopting a decentralized system that would ensure broader participation of all components in managing the country’s affairs, alongside demands to stop the kidnappings and killings occurring in the region and to put an end to the ongoing security chaos that has troubled local residents.

ANHA