ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on Saturday warned that a fragile ceasefire in place in northeast Syria (Rojava) may not hold.
“There has been a ceasefire and stability in northeast Syria for several months, but the possibility of the return of hostilities remains because final deals have yet to be reached,” Abdi said in a video message sent to a Kurdish youth event in Germany.
“However, we hope that the conflict does not reemerge, but we are always ready to protect our institutions and people… We want the [peace] talks to succeed. We believe that the 15-year civil war in Syria has to come to an end,” he added.
Abdi signed an agreement in March with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to integrate Rojava’s military and civilian institutions into the transitional government. They also announced a nationwide ceasefire. There was already a US-brokered truce in place to end months of armed clashes between the SDF and Turkey-backed militia groups that had intensified during the rebel operation to end Bashar al-Assad’s rule in December.
Rojava has witnessed rare stability since March, except for some skirmishes between the SDF and Damascus-affiliated armed groups, but its talks with the central government about implementing their agreement have stalled because of competing views for the future of the country.
Kurds and other minorities are demanding a decentralized Syria but the new government, led by prominent figures from the now-dissolved jihadist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), insists on a centralized system.
The Kurds recently sponsored a conference for Syria’s minorities. In a joint statement, the attendees called for decentralized rule. In response, Damascus paused all talks with the Kurds, including a scheduled meeting in Paris.
Abdi said on Saturday that the only way forward is a decentralized system, a goal they continue to work towards.
“The efforts are underway for this. I believe that all Syrians and international forces will gradually see this as appropriate. Another solution for Syria is not possible,” he said.
The “totalitarian and ultra-central system” of “pre-2011 Syria will not be restored,” he added.
