Siham Qrio: DAA represents correct path to achieving stability, justice in Syria

The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria was declared on 6 September 2018, with a structure comprising the General Council, the Executive Council, and the Council of Justice, pursuant to the decision of the third congress of the Syrian Democratic Council, held on 16 July of that year. The SDC described the move as a necessity to establish a unified administration across seven regions.

Qrio assessed the period between 2014 and 2018 as an effective phase in preventing severe security and political vacuums, evolving into a model for ensuring stability and delivering essential services through the creation of parallel institutions to the central government. This, she argued, laid the foundation for replicating the model in other Syrian areas and for the eventual establishment of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

She emphasized that among the most significant features of the Administration’s trajectory have been institutional consolidation and social participation. The Social Contract—drafted by the peoples of the region—has become a cornerstone, enshrining the rights of Syria’s diverse communities. It empowers the commune as the smallest administrative unit, ensuring that every individual participates in decision-making, with representation progressing through neighborhood, city, and regional councils, up to the broader structures of governance.

Qrio underlined that these measures were designed to engage the social mosaic in local decision-making, while promoting citizenship and pluralism.

Alongside ongoing military offensives and external interventions, she identified the most pressing challenges as the persistence of centralist approaches that marginalize the region and its project, systematic attempts at exclusion, and the absence of a sustainable political-legal framework—recognized both domestically and internationally—that could guarantee continuous dialogue among all Syrians.

She stressed that the DAA today constitutes a socio-political project that reflects the will of the communities of North and East Syria, aiming to serve them, ensure stability, and develop local governance institutions as a foundation for building a more inclusive and pluralistic political future for Syria.

Examples of DAA in Daily Life

Qrio affirmed that DAA has manifested tangibly in people’s daily lives through recognition of cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity. The Administration embraces multiple components, translates this reality into everyday life, and enhances respect for pluralism within a democratic Syrian framework. She noted the adoption of three official languages, the safeguarding of political pluralism, and equal representation.

She further highlighted the central role of women under the Administration, with women constituting 50% of institutions and decision-making bodies across the region, as well as the establishment of unified women’s organizations within civil society. The women-led model, she added, has even inspired women in Iran.

Expansion of DAA Across Syria

Qrio affirmed that the model which originated in Jazira, Kobani, and Afrin gradually expanded and was adopted in other parts of Syria—such as Manbij, Raqqa, and Tabqa—at the request and by the will of local communities. It has also begun to influence other regions, including Suwayda and the Syrian coast.

According to Siham Qrio, the Democratic Autonomous Administration currently receives tripartite support: militarily from the International Coalition; humanitarian assistance from international and regional organizations through various channels to ensure aid reaches affected and vulnerable communities; and political support from Germany, the United States, and France, particularly within the framework of negotiations and dialogue with Syria’s transitional government.

Nonetheless, she cautioned that significant challenges persist due to the disparity and inconsistency of support relative to the complexities of the security and political landscape, in addition to difficulties in mechanisms of political participation and diverging priorities among international actors. She expressed hope that political and diplomatic support would be strengthened to enable a comprehensive negotiated settlement that respects the specific circumstances of North and East Syria and the rights of its inhabitants, while enhancing transparency and oversight to ensure aid reaches those in need .

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ANHA