Syria: After SDF dissolution, al-Sharaa discusses integration steps with Mazloum Abdi

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa discussed steps for integrating the dissolved Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into state institutions with its commander, Mazloum Abdi, on Tuesday, after Abdi announced the group’s dissolution and its “full” integration into state institutions.

The talks took place during a meeting between al-Sharaa and Abdi at the People’s Palace in the capital Damascus, according to a statement from the Syrian presidency.

The presidency said al-Sharaa received Abdi and his accompanying delegation at the People’s Palace, in the presence of Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Deir Ezzor Governor Ziad al-Ayesh.

The meeting covered “a number of issues related to integration into Syrian state institutions and steps for the next phase, in a way that strengthens the state’s presence and supports security and stability”, the statement said.

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Earlier on Tuesday, Abdi announced at a press conference at the People’s Palace that the SDF, which served as the Syrian front for the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)-linked People’s Protection Units (YPG), had been dissolved and would be “fully” integrated into state institutions.

“We stand today at a historic moment in which we turn the page on an important chapter in Syria’s history and begin a new one centred on peace, stability and reconstruction,” Abdi said.

He added that al-Sharaa had announced on several occasions that the right to education in the Kurdish language would be protected, saying they had seen an open stance towards this right and looked forward to developing the decision in the future.

In mid-January, al-Sharaa issued a decree “guaranteeing the rights of Kurds and some of their specific cultural characteristics” in the country, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA.

At the time, al-Sharaa called on the Kurds to “actively participate in building this homeland and preserving its security and unity, and to reject anything else”.

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