Executive Council (Rojava)

Federal Executive Council
Arabic: المجلس التنفيذي للفيدرالية
Kurdish: Encûmena Rêvebir a Federaliyê
Classical Syriac: ܡܘܬܒܐ ܣܘܥܪܢܝܐ ܕܦܕܪܐܠܝܘܬܐ
Overview
Established2018
Dissolved2026
PolityDemocratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria
LeaderCo-chairs
Appointed byFederal Assembly of the Syrian Democratic Council

The Federal Executive Council, or simply the Executive Council (Arabic: المجلس التنفيذي للفيدرالية, Kurdish: Encûmena Rêvebir a Federaliyê, Classical Syriac: ܡܘܬܒܐ ܣܘܥܪܢܝܐ ܕܦܕܪܐܠܝܘܬܐ, romanized: Mawtbo Suronoyo d'Federaloyotho) was the executive body of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) from 2018 until its integration into the Syrian state in 2026. It served as joint coordination committee that oversaw the implementation of policies developed by the Federal Assembly of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC).

The DAANES administration itself, as well as each regional canton, had its own respective Executive Council, Legislative Council, and Justice Council. The regional Executive Councils set the budget for each canton, supervised the work of their subordinate commissions and offices, and submitted reports to the overarching Executive Council of the DAANES.

Origins and history of the Executive Council

Council composition

Among other stipulations outlined is a quota of 40% for women's participation in government, as well as another quota for youth. In connection with a decision to introduce affirmative action for ethnic minorities, all governmental organizations and offices are based on a system with two co-chairs. Women can also voluntarily participate in periodic meetings that aim to discuss their own affairs.

Restructuring of the AANES in 2018

After the restructuring of Rojava's political system on 6 September 2018, Berivan Khalid and Abdul Hamid al-Mahbash were elected co-chairs of the Executive Council of the DAANES.

Commissions

In the first meeting of the DAANES' Executive Council held on 3 October 2018 in Ayn Issa, co-chairs of the nine initial Commissions (also called Committee), which are part of the Executive Council, were elected:

  • Interior Commissions: Ali Mustafa Hajo (علي مصطفى حجو) – Hevi (Hifi) Ibrahim Mustafa (هيفي ابراهيم مصطفى)
  • Education Commissions: Kawthar Doko (Kuthar Duku, كوثر دوكو) - Rajab al-Meshlaf (رجب المشلف)
  • Local Administration Commissions: Joseph (Juzif) Lahdo (جوزيف لحدو) - Media Bozan (Maydia Bouzan, ميديا بوزان)
  • Economics and Agriculture Commissions: Salman Tawfiq al-Baroudo (سلمان توفيق البارودو) - Amal al-Khazim (أمل الخزيم)
  • Finance Commissions: Walat Haj Ali (ولات حاج علي) - Salwa al-Sayid (سلوى السيد)
  • Culture Commissions: Abdul Satar Shakagi (عبدالستار شكاغي) - Aisha Ali Rajab (عائشة علي رجب)
  • Health and Environment Commissions: Dr. Jwan Mustafa (الدكتور جوان مصطفى) – Khetam Khalil al-Jeld (ختام خليل الجلد)
  • Social Affairs Commissions: Farouq al-Mashi (فاروق الماشي) - Berivan Hasan (بيريفان حسن)
  • Women's Commissions: Jihan Khadro (جيهان خضرو)

Sometime later (first publications in December), the former official spokeswoman of "Wrath of the Euphrates" campaign Jihan Sheikh Ahmed was elected co-chair of the Defense Commission, one of two special offices of the Executive Council (the second is the Self-defense Commission), whose forming was assumed shortly after the creation of the initial nine commissions.

Apart from the commissions of the larger DAANES' Executive Council and Cantons’ Executive Councils, smaller subdivisions such as districts, sub-districts, and communes also have their own commissions.

Offices

Besides the commissions, eight Offices are also part of the DAANES' Executive Council, but not of the regional. There are offices for the following tasks:

  • Foreign Relations
  • Oil and Natural Resources
  • Humanitarian Affairs and Organizations
  • Religions and Beliefs
  • Defense Affairs
  • Planning and Development
  • Media
  • Advisory

Operation of the Executive Council

Decisions and responsibilities

The Council assists with coordination and collaboration between cantons in political, economic, social and cultural matters; particularly that of diplomatic and military matters. It also supervises and follows the work of federal Departments and Ministries.

Constitutional conventions

Due to the Executive Council's unique nature as a voluntary grand coalition of political opponents, its operation is subject to constitutional conventions.

Members of the Executive Council

A list of members of some of the Executive Councils:

Name Party Alliance Region Portfolio
Îlham Ehmed Democratic Union Party (PYD) TEV-DEM/LND N/A Co-president
Mansur Selum Democratic Union Party (PYD) TEV-DEM/LND N/A Co-president
Ishow Gowriye Syriac Union Party (SUP) TEV-DEM/LND Jazira Minister of Religious Affairs
Meram Dawûd Honor and Rights Convention N/A N/A
Îbrahîm El-Hesen Tel Abyad Turkmen Representative N/A Euphrates
Rojîn Remo Yekîtiya Star TEV-DEM/LND N/A Minister of Women and Family Affairs
Hikmet Hebîb Arab National Coalition TEV-DEM/LND N/A
Bêrîvan Ehmed Youth's Representative N/A N/A Minister of Youth and Sport
Cemal Şêx Baqî Kurdistan Democratic Party of Syria (PDK-S) HNKS N/A
Salih El-Nebwanî Law–Citizenship–Rights Movement (QMH) N/A N/A

References

  1. ↑ العقد الاجتماعي للفيدرالية الديمقراطية لشمال سوريا. fdr-bs.com (in Arabic). 5 January 2017. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "Hevpeymana Civakî ya Federaliya Demokratîk ji bo Bakurê Sûriyê". fdr-bs.com (in Kurdish). 2 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  3. ↑ ܡܘܬܒܐ ܣܘܥܪܢܝܐ ܕܦܕܪܐܠܝܘܬܐ. fdr-bs.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Syrian Democratic Council". Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "Western Kurdistan's Governmental Model Comes Together". The Rojava Report. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  6. ↑ "Berivan Khalid: Rules of procedure's draft of bodies to be completed within next 10 days". Hawar News Agency. 9 December 2018. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  7. ↑ "Final statement of Autonomous Administration of North, East Syria". Hawar News Agency. 7 September 2018. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  8. ↑ "Who are co-chairs of DAA bodies of north, east Syria?". Hawar News Agency. 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  9. ↑ تعرف على الرؤساء المشتركين لهيئات الإدارة الذاتية لشمال وشرق سوريا. ANF News (in Arabic). 4 October 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  10. ↑ الإدارات في شمال وشرق سوريا ستواصل عملها والمجلس التنفيذي صلة وصل بينها [Administrations in northern and eastern Syria will continue their work and the Executive Board links between them]. Hawar News Agency (in Arabic). 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  11. ↑ van Wilgenburg, Wladimir (5 December 2018). "Senior Syrian Kurdish official calls on US to implement no-fly zone to protect Kurds from Turkey". Kurdistan 24. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  12. ↑ وفد الماني يزور مقر هيئات الإدارة الذاتية للاطلاع على تجربة المرأة [German delegation visits the headquarters of the self-governing bodies to see the experience of women]. Hawar News Agency (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  13. ↑ "Striking out on their own: Syria's Kurds are enjoying more autonomy". The Economist. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  14. ↑ "Executive Board of Democratic Syria Assembly elected". Firat News Agency. 13 December 2015. Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "Syrian Kurds declare new federation in bid for recognition". Middle East Eye. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  16. ↑ Fetah, Vîviyan (17 July 2018). "Îlham Ehmed: Dê rêxistinên me li Şamê jî ava bibin". www.rudaw.net (in Kurdish). Rudaw Media Network. Retrieved 22 March 2024.