A delegation from the Republic of South Africa, headed by Ambassador Ashraf Youssef Suleiman, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of South Africa, visited the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in Qamishlo on 25 September 2025. The delegation was accompanied by Sébastien Foustier, Head of the Sub-Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Heseke, and Thuraya Qanbas from the UNICEF Qamishlo Office – Child Protection and Welfare Department.
The delegation was received by the Co-Chair of the Department of Foreign Relations, Fanar Al-Kaait, the Deputy Co-Chairs, Rubel Bahou and Gulistan Ali, and Executive Council member Khalid Ibrahim.
The meeting discussed recent developments in Syria, particularly in the regions of North and East Syria. It reviewed the experience of the Democratic Autonomous Administration in representing all components of the local community, the pioneering role of women in institutions, and the importance of implementing the 8 March Agreement.
During the meeting, the Executive Council emphasized the need for international powers to assume their responsibilities by providing necessary support to the Autonomous Administration, given the security challenges posed by ISIS cells and the situation of detainees and their families in camps. It also stressed the importance of continued cooperation with South Africa and other countries with citizens in the region.
Ambassador Suleiman expressed his gratitude to the Autonomous Administration, the Syrian Democratic Forces, and the International Committee of the Red Cross for their efforts in successfully repatriating his country’s citizens from ISIS families. He described the success of this operation as a model that other countries could follow and confirmed his country’s readiness to provide support and assistance in this field.
At the conclusion of the meeting, 5 women and 12 children, South African nationals from ISIS families, were officially handed over under a formal document signed between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the State of South Africa, in the presence of representatives from both sides.