Mohammed al-Bashir
{{Short description|Syrian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mohammed al-Bashir
| native_name = {{nobold|محمد البشير}}
| native_name_lang = ar
| image = Mohammed al-Bashir at Umayyad Mosque (cropped2).png
| caption = Al-Bashir in 2024
| office = Minister of Energy
| president = Ahmed al-Sharaa
| term_start = 29 March 2025
| term_end =
| predecessor = Office established
| successor =
| order1 =
| office1 = Prime Minister of Syria
| president1 = Ahmed al-Sharaa{{efn|As de facto leader until 29 January 2025.}}
| term_start1 = 10 December 2024
| term_end1 = 29 March 2025
| predecessor1 = Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali
| successor1 = Office abolished
| order2 =
| office2 = Syrian Salvation Government{{!}}Prime Minister of the Syrian Salvation Government
| president2 = Mustafa al-Mousa
| term_start2 = 13 January 2024
| term_end2 = 10 December 2024
| predecessor2 = Ali Keda
| successor2 = Position abolished
| succeeded2 =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1984}}
| birth_place = Mashoun, Jabal al-Zawiya, Idlib Governorate, Syria
| party = Independent (since 2025)
| otherparty = Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (2017–2025)
| alma_mater = University of Aleppo (BE)
Idlib University (BA)
| occupation =
| signature = Mohammad al-Bashir signature.svg
}}
Mohammed al-Bashir ({{Langx|ar|محمد البشير|translit=Muḥammad al-Bashīr|rtl=yes}}; born 1984) is a Syrian politician and engineer who is currently serving as Minister of Energy in the Syrian transitional government since March 2025. He previously served as the last prime minister of Syria. As prime minister, he led the Syrian caretaker government, which was formed after the fall of the Assad regime, and succeeded Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali in his role.{{Cite web |date=11 December 2024 |title=Syria's Interim Government Prioritizes Security and State Stability |url=https://thegulfobserver.com/syrias-interim-government-prioritizes-security-and-state-stability/ |access-date=11 December 2024 |website=The Gulf Observer |language=en-US}}
Al-Bashir had also served as the fifth prime minister of the Syrian Salvation Government, the civilian administration of the Sunni organization Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, from his election on 13 January 2024 until his appointment by the Syrian General Command as the prime minister.
Early life and education
Al-Bashir was born in 1984 in Mashoun, a village in the Jabal Zawiya region of Idlib Governorate.{{Cite web |date=13 January 2024 |title=سورية: حكومة الإنقاذ في إدلب تنتخب رئيساً جديداً لها |trans-title=Syria: Idlib's Salvation Government elects new president |url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/politics/%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B0-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A8-%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A7 |website=Al Araby |language=ar}} He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Aleppo in 2007. By 2012, al-Bashir had become the head of the Precision Instruments Department at the gas plant of the Syrian Gas Company. After the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, he became director of the Al-Amal Educational Institute, which provided education to children affected by the war.{{Cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=محمد البشير: ماذا نعرف عن المرشح لرئاسة الحكومة السورية الجديدة؟ |trans-title=Mohammad al-Bashir: What do we know about the candidate to head the new Syrian government? |url=https://www.bbc.com/arabic/articles/clyj6vm86ymo |access-date=10 December 2024 |website=BBC News عربي |language=ar}} In 2020, he obtained a degree in Sharia and law from Idlib University, alongside certifications in administrative organisation and project management.{{Cite web |date=13 January 2024 |title=إدلب.. محمد البشير رئيس جديد لحكومة "الإنقاذ" |trans-title=Mohammad Al-Bashir Appointed as the New Head of the 'Salvation Government' |url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/682894/%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227015332/https://www.enabbaladi.net/682894/%d8%a5%d8%af%d9%84%d8%a8-%d9%85%d8%ad%d9%85%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%b4%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d8%b1%d8%a6%d9%8a%d8%b3-%d8%ac%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%af-%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%83%d9%88%d9%85%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a5/ |archive-date=27 February 2024 |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=Enab Baladi |language=ar}}{{Cite web |date=27 March 2023 |title=رئيس مجلس الوزراء في حكومة الإنقاذ السورية - حكومة الإنقاذ السورية |trans-title=Prime Minister of the Syrian Salvation Government - Syrian Salvation Government |url=https://syriansg.org/%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B0-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208152340/https://syriansg.org/%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B0-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3/ |archive-date=8 December 2024 |access-date=9 December 2024 |website=Syrian Salvation Government |language=ar}}
Political career
Before being appointed as a minister, al-Bashir served as the Director of Islamic Education at the Salvation Government's Ministry of Awqaf for two and a half years. Afterwards, he served as Deputy Director and then Director of Association Affairs at the Ministry of Development and Humanitarian Affairs. Between 2022 and 2023, al-Bashir served as Minister of Development and Humanitarian Affairs in the cabinet of Ali Keda.{{Cite web |date=13 January 2024 |title=Engineer Muhammad al-Bashir Elected as SSG Prime Minister |url=https://levant24.com/news/2024/01/engineer-muhammad-al-bashir-elected-as-ssg-prime-minister/ |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=Levant24 |language=en-US}}
= Prime Minister of the Syrian Salvation Government (2024) =
On 13 January 2024, the General Shura Council of the Salvation Government voted to elect al-Bashir as prime minister.{{Cite web |date=22 April 2024 |title=Al-Jolani: The one-man rule |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/04/al-jolani-the-one-man-rule/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926132739/https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/04/al-jolani-the-one-man-rule/ |archive-date=26 September 2024 |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=Enab Baladi |language=en-US}} His election platform focused on e-government and government automation. His administration lowered real estate fees, relaxed planning regulations,{{Cite web |title=SSG Reduces and Cancels Some Real Estate Fees |url=https://hlp.syria-report.com/hlp/ssg-reduces-and-cancels-some-real-estate-fees/ |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=Syria Report |language=en-US |archive-date=28 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528064521/https://hlp.syria-report.com/hlp/ssg-reduces-and-cancels-some-real-estate-fees/ |url-status=live }} and launched consultations for expanding the zoning plan of Idlib.{{Cite web |title=Salvation Government Studies Expanding Idlib City Zoning Plan |url=https://hlp.syria-report.com/hlp/salvation-government-studies-expanding-idlib-city-zoning-plan/ |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=Syria Report |language=en-US}} On 5 March 2024, amid demonstrations against HTS in Idlib and the onset of Ramadan, al-Bashir signed a decree granting amnesty to prisoners who were not convicted of serious crimes.{{Cite web |date=5 March 2024 |title=إدلب.. "الإنقاذ" تصدر عفوًا عن مرتكبي الجرائم وفق شروط واستثناءات |trans-title='Salvation' issues amnesty for perpetrators of crimes according to conditions and exceptions |url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/689939/%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B0-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%81%D9%88%D9%8B%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%AA%D9%83%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC/ |access-date=9 December 2024 |website=Enab Baladi |language=ar}}
In late November 2024, the HTS-led Military Operations Command, supported by Turkish-backed rebels of the Syrian National Army, launched the Northwestern Syria offensive, leading to the capture of Aleppo and significantly increasing the extent of the Salvation Government's controlled territories. In a press conference, al-Bashir stated that the offensive was launched in response to attacks on civilians by Syrian government troops,{{Cite news |date=28 November 2024 |title=Syrian insurgents cut off key road as 200 die in escalating violence |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/28/syrian-insurgents-cut-damascus-aleppo-highway-amid-fresh-offensive |access-date=2 December 2024 |work=The Guardian}} which he claimed had led to the displacement of "tens of thousands" of civilians.{{Cite web |date=29 November 2024 |title=Armed factions of the Syrian opposition announce entry into several neighborhoods in Aleppo |url=https://scope24.net/en/world_news/13621.html |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=SCOPE 24}} On 4 December 2024, al-Bashir travelled to Aleppo to supervise the reopening of government offices, praising employees of the previous government who returned to work.{{Cite web |date=5 December 2024 |title=Up to Double: Commodity Prices Rise in Aleppo |url=https://syrianobserver.com/society/up-to-double-commodity-prices-rise-in-aleppo.html |access-date=9 December 2024 |website=The Syrian Observer |language=en-US}}
= Prime Minister of Syria (2024–2025) =
On 9 December 2024, following the fall of the Assad regime, al-Bashir was tasked with forming the Syrian caretaker government after meeting with HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and outgoing Syrian prime minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali to coordinate a transfer of power.{{Cite web |date=9 December 2024 |title=المعارضة السورية تكلف محمد البشير بتشكيل حكومة انتقالية |trans-title=Syrian opposition assigns Mohammed al-Bashir to form new government |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2024/12/9/%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%83%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%81-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF |access-date=9 December 2024 |website=Al Jazeera Arabic |language=ar}}{{Cite news |date=9 December 2024 |title=Syria Rebel Group Political Chief to Form Temporary Government |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-09/syria-rebel-group-political-chief-to-form-temporary-government |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Picheta |first1=Rob |last2=Regan |first2=Helen |date=9 December 2024 |title=After decades of brutal rule, Bashar al-Assad's regime has been toppled. Here's what we know |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/09/middleeast/syria-assad-rebels-explainer-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=10 December 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}} The next day, he was officially appointed by the Syrian General Command as the prime minister of the caretaker government.{{Cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=Mohammed al-Bashir to head Syria's transitional government |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/12/mohammed-al-bashir-to-head-syrias-transitional-government/ |access-date=15 February 2025 |website=Enab Baladi |language=en-US}} In a televised statement, al-Bashir announced that officials from the Salvation Government met with representatives of the previous government to facilitate the handover of power and that his cabinet from the Salvation Government would assume their corresponding roles in the caretaker government.{{Cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=Assigning Mohammed al-Bashir to Head Transitional Syrian Government |url=https://syrianobserver.com/syrian-actors/assigning-mohammed-al-bashir-to-head-transitional-syrian-government.html |access-date=10 December 2024 |website=The Syrian Observer |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=Mohammed al-Bashir to head Syria's transitional government |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/12/mohammed-al-bashir-to-head-syrias-transitional-government/ |access-date=10 December 2024 |website=Enab Baladi |language=en-US}}
With the 2012 Constitution of Ba'athist Syria suspended following the fall of the Assad regime,{{Cite web |agency=AFP |date=12 December 2024 |title=Syria's new govt says to suspend constitution, parliament for three months |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40337254/syrias-new-govt-says-to-suspend-constitution-parliament-for-three-months |access-date=12 December 2024 |website=Brecorder |language=en}} the new 2025 Interim Constitution establishes a presidential system in which executive power is concentrated in the hands of the president,{{cite web |date=14 March 2025 |title=Syria's new constitution gives sweeping powers, ignores minority rights |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/middle-east/20250314-syria-s-new-constitution-gives-sweeping-powers-ignores-minority-rights |accessdate=15 March 2025 |publisher=rfi}} who appoints the ministers without the position of prime minister.{{cite web |date=12 March 2025 |title=Syria’s Constitutional Draft Set for Release as Fact-Finding Committee Begins Investigations |url=https://www.watanserb.com/en/2025/03/12/syrias-constitutional-draft-set-for-release-as-fact-finding-committee-begins-investigations/ |accessdate=16 March 2025 |publisher=Watan News}} The position of prime minister was abolished on 29 March 2025 with the Syrian transitional government replacing the caretaker government.{{Cite web |title=Syrian president unveils transitional government |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/30/syrian-president-unveils-transitional-government |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}
= Ministry of Energy (2025–present) =
On 29 March 2025, the Syrian transitional government was announced by Syrian President al-Sharaa at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Damascus,{{Cite web |title=نص الإعلان الدستوري لسوريا 2025 |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/encyclopedia/2025/3/14/نص-الإعلان-الدستوري-لسوريا-2025 |access-date=29 March 2025 |website=الجزيرة نت |language=ar}} in which the new ministers were sworn in and delivered speeches outlining their agendas.{{Cite web |date=29 March 2025 |title=وزراء الحكومة السورية يقدمون خططهم ويؤدون القسم الدستوري |url=https://www.syria.tv/وزراء-الحكومة-السورية-يقدمون-خططهم-ويؤدون-القسم-الدستوري |access-date=29 March 2025 |website=Syria TV |language=ar}} With that announcement, al-Bashir was appointed Minister of Energy in the Syrian transitional government and was tasked with restoring the electricity and oil sectors, which had been severely damaged during the Syrian civil war.{{Cite web |date=29 March 2025 |title=Syria swears in new transitional government 4 months after Assad's removal |url=https://halifax.citynews.ca/2025/03/29/syria-swears-in-new-transitional-government-4-months-after-assads-removal/ |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=CityNews Halifax |language=en-US}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali}}
{{s-ttl|title=Prime Minister of Syria|years=2024–2025}}
{{s-non|reason=Office abolished}}
{{s-end}}
{{Prime ministers of Syria}}
{{Tahrir al-Sham}}
Category:People from Idlib Governorate
Category:Anti-Assad politicians of the Syrian civil war
Category:University of Aleppo alumni
Category:Prime ministers of Syria