The Ten Issues That Will Define President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Presidency
JaFaJ News Analysis
Military victory brought President Ahmed al-Sharaa to power. Governing Syria will determine whether history judges him as a revolutionary leader or a successful statesman.
The Syrian President inherits a country emerging from more than thirteen years of civil war, facing enormous political, economic, and humanitarian challenges. While the collapse of the Assad government ended one chapter of Syrian history, it also marked the beginning of an equally difficult phase: rebuilding a functioning state.¹
The following ten issues are expected to define President al-Sharaa’s administration over the next several years.
- BUILDING A PERMANENT CONSTITUTION
The Constitutional Declaration of March 2025 established the legal framework for Syria’s transitional government, but it remains only a temporary governing document. One of President al-Sharaa’s greatest responsibilities will be overseeing development of a permanent constitution that balances executive authority with representative government, judicial independence, and the rule of law.²
- REBUILDING THE ECONOMY
Economic recovery remains Syria’s highest domestic priority.
Years of war devastated industry, agriculture, commerce, transportation, and financial institutions. Millions of Syrians continue to struggle with unemployment, inflation, and declining purchasing power.
Without sustained economic growth, reconstruction, political stability, and public confidence will remain difficult to achieve.³
- RECONSTRUCTING A NATION
Much of Syria’s physical infrastructure must still be rebuilt.
Hospitals.
Schools.
Roads.
Bridges.
Electric power systems.
Water networks.
Communications infrastructure.
Housing.
The scale of reconstruction is among the largest in the modern Middle East and will require years of investment, transparent governance, and effective administration.⁴
- MODERNIZING THE SECURITY SERVICES
Winning a war and building professional security institutions are very different tasks.
President al-Sharaa must integrate former opposition organizations into unified military and police services operating under civilian authority and constitutional oversight. Long-term stability will depend upon disciplined security institutions serving the state rather than individual political movements.⁵
- RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW
Strong governments depend upon strong legal institutions.
The administration has pledged to strengthen judicial independence, modernize the courts, improve transparency, combat corruption, and restore confidence in Syria’s justice system.
International investors and foreign governments will closely monitor progress in these areas.⁶
- HEALING A DIVIDED SOCIETY
The civil war left deep political, religious, and ethnic divisions.
Rebuilding trust among Sunnis, Alawites, Christians, Druze, Kurds, Armenians, Turkmen, Circassians, and other communities will require sustained leadership and inclusive governance.
National reconciliation will likely become one of the defining measures of the administration’s success.⁷
- BRINGING REFUGEES HOME
Millions of Syrians remain displaced inside and outside the country.
Their return depends upon more than improved security.
Housing.
Employment.
Healthcare.
Education.
Public services.
Economic opportunity.
Citizens generally return when they believe the future offers greater opportunity than continued displacement.⁸
- RESTORING SYRIA’S PLACE IN THE WORLD
President al-Sharaa has devoted significant attention to rebuilding Syria’s diplomatic relationships.
Regional governments increasingly view Syria as a partner in reconstruction rather than solely as a conflict zone.
Continued diplomatic normalization could encourage expanded trade, foreign investment, development assistance, and economic growth.⁹
- FIGHTING CORRUPTION
Corruption has long undermined economic development throughout conflict-affected states.
President al-Sharaa has pledged greater transparency, stronger financial oversight, improved procurement systems, and modern public administration.
Investors will judge these commitments by measurable reforms rather than public statements.¹⁰
- BUILDING INSTITUTIONS THAT OUTLAST THE PRESIDENT
Perhaps no issue is more important.
Successful republics are not built upon powerful individuals.
They are built upon strong institutions.
Independent courts.
Representative legislatures.
Professional civil servants.
Accountable security forces.
Transparent financial systems.
Effective local government.
President al-Sharaa’s ultimate legacy will depend upon whether these institutions become permanent features of Syrian government.¹¹
JaFaJ Assessment
President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces one of the most difficult governing agendas of any contemporary world leader.
His greatest challenge is no longer defeating political opponents.
It is rebuilding public confidence in the Syrian state.
The administration has demonstrated measurable progress in restoring government institutions, expanding regional diplomacy, and initiating reconstruction. Nevertheless, success will ultimately depend upon sustained economic growth, constitutional development, institutional accountability, and the government’s ability to improve the daily lives of ordinary Syrians.
**JaFaJ assesses that President al-Sharaa has established a credible foundation for Syria’s recovery. Whether that foundation becomes a durable constitutional republic will depend upon the decisions made during the next two to three years. History will remember this presidency not for the revolution that brought it to power, but for whether it succeeded in building institutions capable of preserving peace, prosperity, and representative government for future generations.**¹²
FOOTNOTES
- Reuters, “Syria’s De Facto Leader Ahmed al-Sharaa Declared President for Transitional Period,” January 29, 2025; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Syria: Reconstruction and Recovery Framework (New York: UNDP, 2025).
- Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic (Damascus: Transitional Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, March 13, 2025); Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Syria’s Political Transition: Challenges for the New Government (Washington, DC: CSIS, 2025).
- World Bank, Syria Economic Monitor: Charting a Path toward Recovery (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025); International Monetary Fund, Regional Economic Outlook: Middle East and Central Asia (Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund, October 2025).
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Syrian Arab Republic: Humanitarian Needs and Response Overview 2026 (New York: United Nations, 2026); UNDP, Syria: Reconstruction and Recovery Framework.
- International Crisis Group, What Lies in Store for Syria as a New Government Takes Power?, Middle East Briefing No. 96 (Brussels: International Crisis Group, April 2025); Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic, arts. 25–32.
- Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2026: Syria (Washington, DC: Freedom House, 2026); Amnesty International, Syria 2025/26 (London: Amnesty International, 2026).
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Syria Regional Refugee Response (Geneva: UNHCR, 2026); Carnegie Middle East Center, Rebuilding Syria’s Institutions after Assad (Beirut: Carnegie Middle East Center, 2025).
- UNHCR, Syria Regional Refugee Response; OCHA, Syrian Arab Republic: Humanitarian Needs and Response Overview 2026; World Health Organization (WHO), Syrian Arab Republic Health Situation Report (Geneva: WHO, 2025–2026).
- European Union External Action Service, “Council Conclusions on Syria,” Brussels, 2025; U.S. Department of State, Integrated Country Strategy: Syria (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of State, 2025); Reuters, regional diplomatic reporting, 2025–2026.
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), States of Fragility 2025 (Paris: OECD Publishing, 2025); World Bank, Syria Economic Monitor.
- Chatham House, Syria’s Transition: Governance, Reconstruction and Regional Security (London: Royal Institute of International Affairs, 2025); Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Syria’s Political Transition: Challenges for the New Government; Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic.
- JaFaJ Research & Intelligence Division, analytical assessment based on the Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic; United Nations Development Programme, Syria: Reconstruction and Recovery Framework; World Bank, Syria Economic Monitor; International Crisis Group, What Lies in Store for Syria as a New Government Takes Power?; Chatham House, Syria’s Transition: Governance, Reconstruction and Regional Security; Reuters reporting, January 2025–July 2026.