The Syrian Democratic Council (MSD or SDC) released a statement on the first anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime. The statement on Monday includes the following:
“Today marks one year since the fall of the Baathist regime on December 8, 2024. That moment was a historic turning point in the trajectory of Syria and its people. It ushered in a new phase after fourteen years of war, repression, and displacement.
The Syrian people endured tremendous human losses, along with the loss of stability and social cohesion. They confronted a regime that rejected reform and dialogue. Instead of responding to peaceful demands, it used force and deepened exclusionary policies. Its excessive centralization weakened state institutions and fractured society.
The insecurity, local conflicts, and social fragmentation present today stem directly from those policies. The regime relied on the chauvinistic ideology of the Baath Party as its source of legitimacy. This approach left the state unable to withstand the changes and pressures that eventually led to its collapse.
A year after ending authoritarian rule, Syria was expected to move forward on a clear national path. This path should have focused on rebuilding the state on new democratic foundations. However, the Interim Government—although it has maintained control of Damascus for a year—has not yet moved beyond the mindset of factions and limited ideological loyalties. It has not shifted toward a unifying national state vision. It has also failed to launch an inclusive national dialogue or to establish independent transitional institutions. Instead, it continues to manage public affairs with the same centralized approach that previously weakened the state.
Although the agreement signed on March 10 between the Interim Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was an important step toward defusing internal conflict, its stalled implementation exposed deep problems. The faltering of negotiations, along with the failure to implement the agreement’s commitments, has revealed the government’s limited ability to manage the transitional period. This became even more evident as crises continued to escalate in the coastal regions of Syria and in Suwayda.
As the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) salutes the Syrian people in this national moment, it emphasizes the need to immediately begin a clear and binding democratic transition. This transition must follow the relevant international resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 2254 and Resolution 2799. Such a process should lead to the formation of a legitimate transitional authority that represents all Syrians. It must also include drafting a democratic constitution based on a new social contract, reforming state institutions, and building an independent judiciary.
The SDC stresses that a successful democratic transition requires broad participation from all components of society. Democratic political forces, national parties, women’s movements, youth groups, and civil actors must all take part, as they are core partners in shaping a new Syria. The SDC also believes that including local communities and the institutions of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in policy-making and decision-making is essential. Such inclusion ensures genuine participation rather than symbolic involvement. Furthermore, the SDC underscores the need to establish a democratic decentralized system that preserves the unity of the country. This system should enable local communities to manage their own affairs, ensure fair distribution of resources, and respect ethnic, religious, and political diversity. It must also include restructuring the security institutions and integrating military forces into a new national security framework that protects citizens rather than power.
The SDC also affirms that transitional justice is a prerequisite for genuine peace. Syria cannot be rebuilt without uncovering the truth, securing the rights of affected people, and addressing the files of detainees and the forcibly disappeared. This issue is a national priority that cannot be postponed. In addition, The SDC warns against any attempt to turn the transitional period into a superficial process that simply reproduces the old centralism with new figures using the same methods.
Moreover, the SDC believes that Syria will play a pivotal role in the geopolitical shifts that lie ahead. Syrians must be partners in shaping their future, not passive recipients of external decisions. In this context, it calls on Syrian political, democratic, and women’s forces to unify their efforts. It also expresses readiness to engage with the Arab states, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the international community to support a genuine path of change in Syria—one that serves regional stability and the rights of its peoples.
In conclusion, Syria is undergoing a historic transformation that will redefine the structure of the state and its role in the Middle East. This transformation can only succeed through sincere national awareness and a firm belief that Syria’s future must be built on freedom, citizenship, justice, and broad participation.
Glory to the martyrs, peace to all.”