The Syrian Interim Government: Challenges of Local Administration and Services

The Syrian Interim Government faces increasing difficulties in managing the areas under its control and providing essential services to the population, amid questions about its sustainability and effectiveness under current conditions. The main challenges are concentrated around three key axes: political, security, and economic.

Political Axis
Local reports indicate that the government suffers from a limited active role, which reduces its ability to engage with international institutions. Its operations rely heavily on external support, especially from Turkey, raising debates about the independence of its political and economic decisions.

Security Axis
The areas under the government’s control experience deteriorating security conditions, with ongoing clashes between armed factions, increasing cases of kidnapping and assassination, as well as threats from extremist groups. These security challenges obstruct any efforts toward development or reconstruction and exacerbate the suffering of the population.

Economic and Service Axis
On the economic and service front, significant challenges remain in rehabilitating the infrastructure damaged by the conflict, including water, electricity, and roads. Vital sectors such as health and education suffer from funding shortages and a lack of specialized personnel, negatively impacting civilians’ lives and the future of upcoming generations.