Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued a series of presidential decrees May 9 reshaping several senior government and provincial positions. The decrees, included changes to the presidency’s administrative leadership, the ministries of information and agriculture, and the governorships of Homs, Latakia, Deir Ezzor and Quneitra.
Under Decree No. 98, Abdurahman Badruddin al-Ama was appointed secretary-general of the Presidency of the Republic, replacing Maher Sharaa, the president’s brother. Ama previously served as governor of Homs and held several posts in the former Syrian Salvation Government (SSG), including director of the Central Planning Authority and minister of development and humanitarian affairs.
The reshuffle also brought changes to Syria’s media leadership. Decree No. 100 appointed Khalid Fawaz Zarour as minister of information, replacing Hamza al-Mustafa. Mustafa acknowledged the transition in a statement posted on X, congratulating Zarour and thanking President Sharaa “for his confidence.” He said the handover process would begin immediately.
Academic Background Shapes Information Ministry
Zarour, born in 1990, enters the ministry with an academic and media development background. He holds a doctorate in digital media from the Lebanese University and previously served as dean of the Faculty of Media at Damascus University.
During his academic career, Zarour lectured at Syrian and Lebanese universities and participated in research focused on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. According to biographical information released alongside the decree, he also signed agreements with international media organizations including BBC, France 24 and Al Jazeera.
The presidency also announced the appointment of Basil Hafez al-Suwaidan as minister of agriculture under Decree No. 101, replacing Amjad Badr. Suwaidan previously served in several agricultural and investment-related positions, including assistant minister of agriculture and director of agricultural investment companies in Idlib.
In a Facebook statement, outgoing Agriculture Minister Badr thanked Sharaa for “the trust he placed in me during the previous period” while wishing his successor success in “advancing Syria’s agricultural sector.”
Governors Reassigned Across Strategic Provinces
Several provincial leadership changes accompanied the cabinet reshuffle. Decree No. 102 transferred Ghassan Elias Ahmad from his previous role as governor of Deir Ezzor to governor of Quneitra. Ahmad, born in 1978 in Deir Ezzor province, holds a law degree from Aleppo University and was active in revolutionary political structures since the revolution’s beginning.
According to information released after the appointment, Ahmad participated in local councils affiliated with the revolution and later worked in administrative bodies linked to the SSG. He also fought against both Assad and ISIS forces.
In Homs, Marhaf Khalid al-Nasan was appointed governor under Decree No. 103, succeeding Ama. Nasan previously headed internal security in the province and has a background tied to various military revolutionary groups.
Born in Homs in 1984, Nasan studied chemical and petroleum engineering before being arrested in 2005 by the Assad regime. He spent years in Sednaya Prison before his release during the early stages of the revolution.
Port Administrator Takes Over Latakia
President Sharaa also appointed Ahmad Ali Mustafa as governor of Latakia through Decree No. 104. Mustafa held several senior posts in Syria’s maritime and border administration sectors, most recently serving as director-general of Syrian ports. He previously managed the port of Latakia and oversaw agreements involving maritime infrastructure projects with international companies, including DP World and CMA CGM.
Meanwhile, Decree No. 105 appointed Ziad Fawaz al-Ayesh as governor of Deir Ezzor. Ayesh previously worked as a presidential envoy overseeing negotiations and agreements involving the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) while serving in positions within the Interior Ministry.
The appointments come amid ongoing efforts by the Syrian leadership to reorganize administrative and security institutions. Observers view the reshuffle as part of ongoing attempts by Sharaa’s administration to consolidate governance structures while elevating figures with security, administrative and revolutionary experience.
