Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Syria Appoints Kurdish Leader Mazloum Abdi as Presidential Adviser
Syria’s president appointed Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi to advise the presidency.
The official decree uses the name Mustafa Khalil Abdi.
Abdi previously led the Syrian Democratic Forces, which fought the Islamic State with support from the United States.
He announced that the group was being dissolved.
Its fighters are being integrated into the Syrian army.
The Kurdish civilian administration is also being joined to Syria’s central government.
This gives Damascus more control over Kurdish-held areas.
It also reduces Kurdish hopes of having an autonomous region.
Abdi says Kurds will still work to protect their rights in Syria’s constitution.
A U.S. envoy praised the agreement as a diplomatic solution.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi as an adviser to the presidency.
The decree names the appointee as Mustafa Khalil Abdi, one of Abdi’s known names.
The appointment followed Abdi’s announcement that the Syrian Democratic Forces would be dissolved.
The dissolution was part of a January agreement integrating Kurdish forces and civilian administration into the Syrian state.
The deal expands Damascus’s control but ends long-held Kurdish hopes for autonomy, while Abdi says the struggle for constitutional rights will continue.
- Who
- Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi, identified in the decree as Mustafa Khalil Abdi.
- What
- Abdi was appointed a presidential adviser after announcing the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces under an integration agreement.
- When
- The appointment was announced on Friday, days after Abdi announced the SDF’s dissolution; the integration deal was reached in January.
- Where
- Syria, involving Damascus and Kurdish-held areas in northern and northeastern Syria.
- Why
- The appointment followed an agreement to integrate Kurdish forces and civilian administration into the Syrian state and extend government control nationwide.
Central State Integration
Kurdish Rights and Autonomy
Control of Syria
Central State Integration
Syrian authorities are seeking to restore state control across the country by integrating Kurdish forces and administration into state institutions.
Kurdish Rights and Autonomy
The agreement ends long-held Kurdish hopes for autonomy, according to the report.
Meaning of the agreement
Central State Integration
U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack described the arrangement as genuine integration and a diplomatic solution that strengthens Syria’s sovereignty.
Kurdish Rights and Autonomy
Mazloum Abdi said the Kurdish struggle would continue to secure Kurdish rights in Syria’s constitution.
Kurdish political gains
Central State Integration
The agreement gives Kurdish leaders substantive roles within the Syrian government, according to Barrack.
Kurdish Rights and Autonomy
Kurdish forces lost territory during January clashes before Abdi agreed to the integration deal.
- Appointee
- Mazloum Abdi, identified in the decree as Mustafa Khalil Abdi
- New role
- Adviser to the presidency of the republic
- Former position
- Leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces
- Integration agreement
- Kurdish forces and civilian administration are being integrated into the Syrian state
- SDF dissolution
- Announced by Abdi on Tuesday
- U.S. response
- Special envoy Tom Barrack called the arrangement genuine integration and praised Kurdish partners
- Kurdish rights
- A decree recognized Kurdish national rights and Kurdish as a national language
