Syria: Mazloum Abdi Joins the Presidency Following the Dissolution of the SDF

Friday 28 August 2026 - 08:05

The political and military transition underway in Syria has reached a new milestone. President Ahmed al-Charaa has appointed Mazloum Abdi as an advisor to the presidency, just days after the announcement of the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and their integration into state structures.

The decision, formalized by a presidential decree published late Thursday night, marks the transition of a central figure in the Syrian Kurdish movement into the institutions of power in Damascus. However, the text does not specify the exact missions or the scope of intervention that will be assigned to the former SDF commander.

From Military Command to Presidential Role

Known as Mazloum Abdi, Moustafa Khalil Abdi led the Syrian Democratic Forces for several years, which were the main armed force of the Kurdish autonomous administration in northern and northeastern Syria.

His appointment comes in direct continuation of the agreement reached between the authorities in Damascus and Kurdish officials. Two days prior, from the People's Palace, Mazloum Abdi announced the end of the SDF as an independent military force.

The units of this coalition are now to be integrated into the brigades of the Syrian army, thus ending the existence of an autonomous military organization that controlled significant portions of Syrian territory.

This evolution represents a major turning point in the process of rebuilding central authority after years of political and military fragmentation.

The SDF, a Key Player in the Fight Against ISIS

Established in 2015, the Syrian Democratic Forces gradually took on a central role in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria. Dominated by Kurdish fighters and supported by the United States, the coalition became Washington's main ground partner in operations against the jihadist organization.

At their peak, the SDF comprised around 100,000 Kurdish and Arab fighters. They controlled vast territories in the north and northeast of the country, including strategic infrastructures, border posts, and several resource-rich areas.

This military power allowed the Kurds to consolidate a form of de facto autonomy, built in the context of the Syrian civil war.

The dissolution of this force thus marks a profound change in the institutional and security balance of the country.

Damascus Strengthens Its Reunification Project

For President Ahmed al-Charaa, the integration of the SDF into the state apparatus represents an important advancement in the strategy of reunifying Syrian territory.

The disappearance of this autonomous military structure allows Damascus to strengthen its control over the organization of the armed forces, as well as over several infrastructures and strategic resources that had previously eluded direct central authority.

The arrangements that led to this integration were initiated at the beginning of 2026, following a period marked by violent clashes. Their gradual implementation has paved the way for a restructuring of relations between central authorities and Kurdish forces.

This reconfiguration has also unfolded in a context of changing American positions. Washington, long the main supporter of the SDF, has simultaneously strengthened its relations with the new authorities established in Damascus.

Kurdish Rights at the Heart of the New Phase

While the appointment of Mazloum Abdi to the presidency sends a strong political signal, it does not resolve all the questions raised by the agreement between Damascus and Kurdish officials.

By accepting the dissolution of their main armed force, the Kurds have relinquished a significant part of the autonomy gained during the war. In return, the political, cultural, and linguistic guarantees promised by the Syrian authorities have now become central.

Ahmed al-Charaa had notably signed a decree recognizing the Kurds as a national component of Syria and granting Kurdish the status of a national language. Measures have also been initiated to organize its teaching in schools in predominantly Kurdish regions.

These developments represent a major change in a country where the issue of recognizing Kurdish rights has long been at the center of political tensions.

However, Mazloum Abdi reminded that institutional integration does not put an end to the demands of the Kurdish community. The focus now shifts to the sustainable recognition of these rights within the constitutional framework of future Syria.

An Integration Now Put to the Test

The appointment of the former SDF leader thus opens a new chapter for Syria. For Damascus, it symbolizes the success of a process aimed at bringing one of the main armed forces, which had previously operated autonomously, under state authority.

For Kurdish officials, this new configuration represents both an integration into national institutions and a test of the reality of the political commitments obtained.

The continuation of the process will depend in particular on the effective place accorded to Kurdish representatives in institutions, the implementation of the announced guarantees, and their potential incorporation into the Constitution.

After having led an autonomous military force for years, Mazloum Abdi now embarks on a new phase within the presidential apparatus. His journey illustrates the profound transformations underway in a Syria that seeks to rebuild its institutions and redefine the balance between central power, communities, and territories.