Suwayda’s Governor Mustafa al-Bakour, issued one of his sharpest statements Sunday November 9, denouncing what he described as “extortion and exploitation” in the restive southern governorate. His comments came amid growing anger over the activities of the so-called “Legal Committee” affiliated with Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri.
In a post on the X platform, Bakour said Suwayda “is not a place for extortion,” adding, “Enough tampering with people’s dignity and exploiting their patience.” He questioned the committee’s authority to collect funds from residents, asking, “Who authorized you to open a fund to collect money? Who are you collecting it for?” He warned that the law “will not have mercy on violators.”
Residents have accused the committee of arbitrary interference in local governance, including unapproved appointments in village councils. The governor previously revealed that some public officials were being pressured by armed factions to halt salary payments and transfers through the “Sham Cash” system.
Security and Humanitarian Strains Continue
The security situation in Suwayda remains fragile following months of kidnappings, violence, and displacement. On November 6, a family of six from Deir Ezzor was abducted on the Daraa-Suwayda road, with the kidnappers demanding a $600,000 ransom. The incident prompted tribal mobilizations by the Al-Ukaidat clan. By Saturday, November 8, local negotiators secured the release of the seven abducted individuals without ransom.
Attacks on transport routes have added to the instability. On October 28, a passenger bus traveling from Damascus to Suwayda was shot at near the village of Bli, killing two and injuring at least four. Brig. Gen. Hussam al-Tahhan, head of internal security in Suwayda, described the attack as a “terrorist attempt to destabilize the region.”
Relief Operations and Regional Support
Despite ongoing unrest, humanitarian operations have expanded in the governorate. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on November 5 that 1,300 truckloads of aid have reached southern Syria, benefiting nearly 273,000 people in Suwayda.
The Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization also dispatched 16 aid trucks carrying prefabricated housing and medical supplies, to be distributed by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). The group has been providing shelter and winter aid to displaced Bedouin families relocated to Daraa and Rural Damascus after months of violence.
In a related initiative, the Suwayda governorate confirmed it facilitated the safe transfer of families from western villages to Daraa in cooperation with SARC, part of efforts to stabilize the province and prepare for the return of displaced citizens.
Economic and Administrative Measures
Governor Bakour announced this week that salaries for employees in 29 government departments had been disbursed following new financial procedures. The move, according to a statement on his Telegram channel, aims to “guarantee the rights of all employees” and strengthen reliance on electronic transfers through the “Sham Cash” service.
While these measures signal administrative progress, many residents remain wary of renewed conflict and deepening hardship. With political uncertainty lingering and armed factions still active, Suwayda’s path toward stability appears fraught with hardships but not beyond hope.
