Sources close to the Syrian government told Asharq Al-Awsat that a cabinet reshuffle is expected in the coming days, alongside a restructuring of several ministries, including sovereign portfolios, as well as a wave of changes affecting several provincial governors.
The anticipated changes come more than a year after the formation of the Syrian government in March 2025, which followed the end of the caretaker administration’s mandate.
Sources said the reshuffle is expected to affect several service ministries, most notably Local Administration and Environment, Health, Sports and Youth, Agriculture, Transport, Education, and Higher Education. The process has already begun at the Ministry of Agriculture, followed by the Health Ministry.
Information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat indicates that some of the anticipated changes come at the personal request of ministers for various reasons, including health-related issues.
Some dismissed ministers may assume senior leadership roles, while other changes stem from performance evaluations. The sources did not rule out that the ongoing rapprochement and efforts to accelerate the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are also a factor.
No Change to Sovereign Portfolios
In recent weeks, there had been speculation about changes at the Interior Ministry, including the possible transfer of Interior Minister Anas Khattab to head the National Security Council and the appointment of his deputy Abdul Qader Tahan as minister. However, government sources confirmed that no sovereign ministries will see changes at the ministerial level.
The sources said the presidency aims to preserve stability in these ministries, citing their recent successes, including the arrest of several war criminals linked to the former regime, such as Amjad Youssef.
They also pointed to the continued work of ministries involved in the SDF integration project, including Defense, which is restructuring the military, Justice, which is overseeing judicial facilities in the eastern region, as well as Energy and Economy.
Easing Public Discontent
The sources noted that despite strong public approval of some ministries, including Interior and Defense, there is dissatisfaction with other sovereign ministries, particularly Energy, Economy, and Finance, which face public demands for ministerial dismissals due to the burdens placed on citizens.
However, the authorities are aware of the complex nature of these challenges and continue to support these institutions and their development projects, making them largely insulated from change.
Still, the sources stressed that such steps must be accompanied by “urgent decisions to ease public frustration,” particularly regarding high electricity bills, which have affected public satisfaction despite clear improvements in service quality and reduced outages. A similar trend is seen in the telecommunications sector, where network coverage and access have improved significantly, but costs have also risen.
Broad Restructuring
The anticipated changes are not limited to ministerial portfolios but extend to restructuring directorates and senior positions across institutions, including Interior, Defense, Tourism, Communications, Technology, Information, and Media, through dismissals and new appointments.
Asharq Al-Awsat has learned of a broad campaign of changes aimed at reorganizing Syrian institutions and ministries. These include deputy ministers and administrative directors, particularly in the Tourism Ministry, as well as labor unions and committees.
Among those affected is the head of the General Federation of Trade Unions, Fawaz al-Ahmad. Efforts are also ongoing to restructure and appoint new leadership in bar associations across several provinces.
There is also talk of an impending reshuffle of governors that may affect major provinces, including Aleppo and Homs. Local sources in Aleppo said Governor Azzam Gharib has been offered a senior leadership role within the executive authority close to the presidential palace, pending his approval, as he continues to focus on provincial affairs.
No Quota-Based Appointments
Wael Alwan, executive director of the Jusoor Center for Studies, attributed the reported wave of ministerial, administrative, and local changes — one year after the formation of the current government — to a presidential evaluation of government performance.
He added that based on monitoring the selection process for ministers, there appears to be no reliance on quota-based or appeasement-driven appointments. Nevertheless, he expects that the next phase may include SDF figures in decision-making positions, such as ministers, deputies, or governors.
“This would be a natural development within a framework of power-sharing and avoiding monopolization,” he said, noting that appointments are based on competence, evaluation, and periodic review, with positions subject to ongoing oversight rather than personal favoritism.
