Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria Native names
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–2026 | |||||||||
| Status | Quasi-state | ||||||||
| Capital and largest city | Al-Hasakah 36°29′55″N 40°44′45″E / 36.49861°N 40.74583°E | ||||||||
| Official languages | |||||||||
| Government | Autonomous diarchic presidential government | ||||||||
| Co-Presidents | |||||||||
• 2016–2018 | Hediya Yousef and Mansur Selum | ||||||||
• 2018–2026 | Îlham Ehmed and Mansur Selum | ||||||||
| Legislature | People's Democratic Council | ||||||||
| Historical era | |||||||||
• Established as the Kurdish Supreme Committee | 12 July 2012 | ||||||||
• Transitional administration declared | 2013 | ||||||||
• Cantons declare autonomy | January 2014 | ||||||||
• Cantons declare federation | 17 March 2016 | ||||||||
• New administration declared | 6 September 2018 | ||||||||
| 13–30 January 2026 | |||||||||
• Integration into the Syrian state | 20 August 2026 | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
• Total | 3,800 sq mi (9,800 km2)(2019) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 2024 estimate | 4,600,000 | ||||||||
| Currency | Syrian pound (SYP) | ||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+3 (Arabia Standard Time) | ||||||||
| Driving side | right | ||||||||
Website daanes | |||||||||
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The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), also known as Rojava, was a de facto autonomous region in northeastern Syria from 2012 until its integration into the Syrian state in 2026. At various points during its existence, it consisted of the self-governing sub-regions of Afrin, Jazira, Euphrates, Raqqa, Tabqa, Manbij, and Deir ez-Zor. The region conducted some foreign relations, but was not officially recognized as autonomous by the Syrian government or any other state, although the Parliament of Catalonia recognized it.
The region was not officially recognized as autonomous by the government of Syria or other governments, except for the Catalan Parliament at first. It has widespread support for its democratic, sustainable, equal, and feminist laws. Northeastern Syria is home to diverse ethnic groups including Kurdish, Arab, and Assyrian populations, as well as smaller communities of Turkmen, Armenians, Circassians, and Yazidis.
Turkish and Turkish-backed forces took control of parts of northern Syria through military operations against the SDF. AANES and its SDF have said they will protect all areas under their control from any attacks.
Following the January 2026 northeastern Syria offensive by government forces, up to 80% of the DAANES's territory was captured and subsequently ceded to the Syrian government as part of an integration agreement, culminating in the DAANES's full integration into the Syrian state on 20 August 2026.
The region is located west of the Tigris, east of the Euphrates, and south of the Turkish border. It borders Iraq to the southeast and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region to the northeast. The area is mostly flat with some low hills and a few mountains, including Mount Abdulaziz and part of the Sinjar Mountain Range.
It includes parts of the al-Hasakah, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Aleppo governorates in Syria.
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