A new Syrian government has been announced

Syrian transitional President Ahmad al Sharaa announced on Saturday evening the formation of a new government, with key portfolios held by figures close to him, but aiming to be inclusive and include one female minister.

In a speech delivered during the government announcement ceremony, Sharaa, who assumed power on December 8, emphasized his desire to “build a strong and stable state”.

He added, “We’re witnessing the birth of a new phase in our national journey, and I assure you that today is the beginning of a new phase in which we draw inspiration from our great past to move together toward the future we desire with strong will and unwavering determination”.

The 23 ministers were sworn in before the transitional president during a ceremony held at the presidential palace and broadcast on television.

Foreign Minister Asaad al Sheibani and Defense Minister Muharraf Abu Qasra, both close to the transitional president, retained their positions in the government.

Anas Khattab, head of the General Intelligence Service and also close to Sharaa, was appointed Minister of the Interior.

The new government is more inclusive than the ministerial team that has been in charge of running the country since the ouster of Bashar al Assad, which was led by Mohammed al Bashir, who became Minister of Energy.

Hind Qabbat, a Christian and opponent of ousted President Bashar al Assad, was appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Labor.

The government also includes at least one Druze minister, one Kurdish minister, and one Alawite minister.

Raed al Saleh, head of the White Helmets, which previously carried out rescue operations in opposition-held areas, was appointed Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management.

The announcement, initially expected on March 1, comes as the international community calls for a comprehensive transition process in Syria.

It also comes after sectarian violence in early March that targeted Alawites in the coastal region in the west of the country, where the minority, from which ousted Assad hails, is concentrated.

The full list of the ministers in the government are: