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Syria names Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi as presidential adviser

Syria's new leadership has appointed a prominent Kurdish commander to serve as an adviser to the presidency, signalling potential shifts in the country's approach to its Kurdish population following recent political transitions.

LSN India · 28 August 2026

Syria has appointed Mustafa Khalil Abdi, a senior Kurdish military leader, as an adviser to the presidency in a significant move that reflects evolving dynamics in the war-torn nation's political landscape. The appointment was formalised through an official decree signed by Syrian leadership and released by the state news agency SANA. The decision marks a notable development in Syrian-Kurdish relations, particularly given the historical tensions between Damascus and Kurdish-led autonomous forces in the northeastern region. Abdi's appointment to the presidential advisory role suggests the new Syrian administration may be pursuing a more inclusive approach to governance that incorporates representation from the country's Kurdish communities. The move comes amid broader attempts to stabilise Syria's political institutions following years of civil conflict that have reshaped the nation's power structures and regional relationships.