Syrian Democratic Council

The Syrian Democratic Council was established on 10 December 2015 in Al-Malikiyah.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpost.com/article/6702811/2015/12/10/syria-kurd-arab-coalition-creates-political-wing|title=Kurdish-Arab coalition fighting Islamic State in Syria creates political wing|publisher=GlobalPost (AFP)|date=2015-12-10|access-date=2016-05-26}}{{cite web|url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/12/11/kurdish-arab-coalition-in-syria-forms-political-wing.html|title=Kurdish-Arab coalition in Syria forms political wing|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=2015-12-11|access-date=2016-05-26}}{{cite web|url=http://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/executive-board-of-democratic-syria-assembly-elected|title=Executive Board of Democratic Syria Assembly elected|publisher=ANF|date=2015-12-13|access-date=2016-05-26}} Prominent human rights activist Haytham Manna was elected co-chair at its founding.{{cite web|url=http://syrianobserver.com/EN/News/30279/Haytham_Manna_Elected_Joint_Chairman_Syrian_Democratic_Council|title=Haytham Manna Elected Joint Chairman of Syrian Democratic Council|publisher=The Syrian Observer|date=2015-10-14|access-date=2016-05-26}}

The Assembly that established the Syrian Democratic Council was made up of 13 members from specific ethnic, economic and political backgrounds.{{cite web|title=Kurdish-Arab coalition in Syria creates political wing|publisher=Ekurd Daily|url=http://ekurd.net/syria-kurd-arab-political-wing-2015-12-10|date=10 December 2015|access-date=19 March 2016}}

On 1 August 2016 the Syrian Democratic Council opened a public office in Hasakah.{{cite web|url=http://en.hawarnews.com/inauguration-of-the-1st-msd-office/|title=Inauguration of the 1st MSD office|publisher=Hawar News Agency|date=2016-08-01|access-date=2016-08-03}}

On 11 September 2016 the Syria's Tomorrow Movement signed a cooperation agreement with the Syrian Democratic Council and the associated de facto autonomous region of the AANES.{{cite web|url=http://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/agreement-for-the-future-of-syria|title=Agreement for the future of Syria|publisher=ANF|date=11 September 2016|access-date=11 September 2016}}

In late September and early October 2016 a forum for the Syrian Democratic Council was held in the town of Rmelan, in the northeastern Hasakah Governorate. Those that attended the conference included a representative from Jableh, in the western Latakia Governorate.{{cite web|url=http://en.hawarnews.com/jableh-representative-in-rmaylan-forum-federation-guarantees-syrian-unity/|title=Jableh representative in Rmaylan forum: Federation guarantees Syrian unity|website=Hawar News Agency|date=1 October 2016|access-date=3 October 2016|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010114212/http://en.hawarnews.com/jableh-representative-in-rmaylan-forum-federation-guarantees-syrian-unity/|url-status=dead}}

Ronahî TV support the Democratic Union Party.

On 13 January 2017, a youth constituent assembly was established in Qamishli.{{cite web|url=http://hawarnews.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%AA%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B8/|title=Announcing the formation of a constituent assembly to build youth system in northern Syria|work=Hawar News Agency|date=13 January 2017|access-date=14 January 2017|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010111208/http://hawarnews.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%AA%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B8/|url-status=dead}}

On 25 February 2017, the Assyrian Democratic Party agreed to join the Syrian Democratic Council, and the YPG agreed to hand over security in the Assyrian towns along the Khabur River to the Khabur Guards and Nattoreh which joined the Syrian Democratic Forces.{{cite tweet|user=Anit_Garibaldi|author=Anita Garibaldi|number=835268523513425920|date=24 February 2017|title=1. Under reported deal reached last month between Assyrians of Khabour and PYD. YPG to leave all Assyrian towns along the Khabour River...|access-date=14 April 2017}}{{cite tweet|user=CristiansOrient|author=CristiansOrient 🎗|number=837419281600008192|date=2 March 2017|title=Milicians cristians dels Guàrdies del Khabour, Forces Democràtiques de #Síria|access-date=14 April 2017}} On 13 April, PYD forces officially handed over the Khabur valley's villages to the Khabour Guards and Nattoreh, though the YPG kept a military base near Tell Tamer.{{cite web|url=https://en.zamanalwsl.net/news/25221.html|title=Assyrians seek self-management in Hasaka over deal with PYD|work=Zaman al-Wasl|date=13 April 2017|access-date=14 April 2017}} On the same day, the second conference of the SDC took place in al-Malikiyah and Riad Darar was elected as the co-president of the SDC, replacing Haytham Manna, alongside Îlham Ehmed, who was re-elected.{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2017/03/syria-kurdish-democratic-council-arab-leader-federal.amp.html|title=What federalism would mean for northern Syria|work=Al-Monitor|author=Sardar Mlla Drwish|date=27 March 2017}}

On 28 May 2017, a female branch of the Syrian Democratic Assembly was established in Al-Shaddadah.{{cite tweet|user=info_Rojava|author=InfoRojava-Kurdistan|number=868901764006895617|date=28 May 2017|title=#Rojava #Syrie L'Assemblée démocratique de Syrie a ouvert sa branche féminine à Shadadé.}}

Elections for the council were planned for early 2018, but never held.{{cite news|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/12/syria-north-kurdish-federal-elections-rule.html|title=Syrian Kurds press on with elections despite divisions|newspaper=Al-Monitor: Independent, Trusted Coverage of the Middle East|date=12 December 2017}} On 16 July 2018, the Third Conference of SDC was held under the slogan "Towards a Political Solution and Building a Decentralized Democratic Syria" in Al-Tabqa city, where the delegates elected Amina Omar and re-elected Riad Darar as co-chairs of SDC.{{cite web|date=16 July 2018|title=Amina Omar, Ryad Derrar elected as co-chairs of MSD|url=http://www.hawarnews.com/en/haber/amina-omar-ryad-derrar-elected-as-co-chairs-of-msd-h2572.html|access-date=25 December 2021|website=Hawar News Agency|language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hawarnews.com/ar/haber/d985d8acd984d8b3-d8b3d988d8b1d98ad8a7-d8a7d984d8afd98ad985d982d8b1d8a7d8b7d98ad8a9-d98ad986d987d98a-d8a3d8b9d985d8a7d984-d985d8a4d8aad985d8b1d987-d8a8d8a5d8b5d8afd8a7d8b1-d8a7d984d8a8d98ad8a7d986-d8a7d984d8aed8aad8a7d985d98a-h5024.html|title=مجلس سوريا الديمقراطية ينهي أعمال مؤتمره بإصدار البيان الختامي - ANHA|language=ar}}

Amina Omar replaced Îlham Ehmed, who was elected co-president of the Executive Council of the AANES,{{cite news|last1=Fetah|first1=Vîviyan|title=Îlham Ehmed: Dê rêxistinên me li Şamê jî ava bibin|url=https://www.rudaw.net/kurmanci/middleeast/syria/170720181|access-date=29 September 2019|work=www.rudaw.net|agency=Rudaw Media Network|date=17 July 2018|language=ku}}

On 6 September 2018, SDC held a meeting of local councils and autonomous administration departments in north and east Syria at the headquarters of SDC in Ain Issa town, with the participation of Amina Omar, co-chair of SDC, the heads of the civil councils in North Syria and the dignitaries of the Arab tribes, to form an autonomous administration of north and east of Syria on the basis of the decision taken at the third conference of the SDC held on 16 July this year. During the meeting, the 70-member General Council for Autonomous Administration of North, East Syria was formed as follows: 49 members of the legislative councils in the areas of Autonomous Administration and civil councils, and 21 members of the technocrats agreed upon through the preparatory committee and discuss other departments. Mrs. Siham Qariou (Syriac) and Mr. Farid Atti (Kurd) were elected to the joint presidency of the General Council for the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, also were elected five members of General Office of the council. Mrs. Berivan Khaled (Khalid) and Abdul Hamid al-Mahbash were elected co-chairmen of Executive Body.{{cite web|url=http://www.hawarnews.com/en/haber/formation-of-autonomous-administration-of-north-east-syria-h3580.html|title=Formation of Autonomous Administration of North, East Syria|work=Hawar News Agency}}{{cite web|url=http://hawarnews.com/en/haber/final-statement-of-autonomous-administration-of-north-east-syria-h3608.html|title=Final statement of Autonomous Administration of North, East Syria|work=Hawar News Agency}}{{cite web|url=https://theregion.org/article/13077-autonomous-administration-of-north-east-syria-announced-ain-issa|title=Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria announced in Ain Issa}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hawarnews.com/en/haber/berivan-khalid-rules-of-procedures-draft-of-bodies-to-be-completed-within-next-10-days-h5393.html|title=Berivan Khalid: Rules of procedure's draft of bodies to be completed within next 10 days}}

Later, in the meeting held on 3 October 2018, the co-chairs of the nine Authorities of the Executive Council were elected.{{cite web|url=http://www.hawarnews.com/en/haber/who-are-co-chairs-of-daa-bodies-of-north-east-syria-h4132.html |title=Who are co-chairs of DAA bodies of north, east Syria?}}{{cite web|url=https://anfarabic.com/سوريا/تعرف-على-الرؤساء-المشتركين-لهيئات-الإدارة-الذاتية-لشمال-وشرق-سوريا-47766|title=تعرف على الرؤساء المشتركين لهيئات الإدارة الذاتية لشمال وشرق سوريا|language=ar}}

On October 21, the first meeting of the General Council was held, at which a legal committee of three people was created, whose tasks is to determine laws, concepts and proposals from committees, departments and offices, in addition to studying the laws issued by the council. At the meeting it was decided to hold meetings of the Council twice a month.{{cite web|url=http://www.hawarnews.com/ar/haber/d8a7d984d985d8acd984d8b3-d8a7d984d8b9d8a7d985-d984d984d8a5d8afd8a7d8b1d8a9-d8a7d984d8b0d8a7d8aad98ad8a9-d98ad986d8a7d982d8b4-d8a2d984d98ad8a9-d8b9d985d984d987-d988d98ad8aad8aed8b0-d982d8b1d8a7d8b1d8a7d8aa-d981d98a-d8acd984d8b3d8aad987-d8a7d984d8a7d988d984d989-h9371.html|title=المجلس العام للإدارة الذاتية يناقش آلية عمله ويتخذ قرارات في جلسته الاولى|work=Hawar News Agency|language=ar}}

While the Syrian Democratic Council stressed their desire to participate in the Geneva and Astana talks, they were excluded from both due to Turkish veto.{{Cite web|last=A|first=Marwa|date=2 December 2019|title=We were deliberately left out of Syria's constitutional process, Kurdish official tells MEMO|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191202-we-were-deliberately-left-out-of-syrias-constitutional-process-kurdish-official-tells-memo/|access-date=5 December 2023|website=Middle East Monitor}}{{Cite web|last=Ahmed|first=Îlham|date=20 November 2019|title=Ilham Ahmed Remarks|url=https://dckurd.org/2019/11/26/ilham-ahmed-remarks/|access-date=5 December 2023|website=Washington Kurdish Institute}}{{Cite web|last=Thompson|first=Ben|date=16 March 2016|title=Shut out of Peace Talks, Kurds Seek Self-Rule in Northern Syria |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2016/0316/Shut-out-of-peace-talks-Kurds-seek-self-rule-in-northern-Syria|access-date=5 December 2023|website=Christian Science Monitor}}

Effective 31 January 2018, the SDC is registered in the US as a "foreign political party" under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syrian-kurds-apply-to-set-up-mission-in-washington-130649|title=Syrian Kurds apply to set up mission in Washington|publisher=Hurriyet Daily News|date=2018-04-20}}

On the Geneva talks, SDC member Bassam Ishak stated:

As for Iran, Russia, and the Syrian regime, they want the regime to regain control over the territories east of the Euphrates river, and therefore they reject the DAA project and do not want its participation.{{Cite web|date=7 July 2021|title=Bassam Ishak: DAA's absence in Astana clear signal for a military solution for Syria only in the interest of Syrian regime and its sponsors|url=https://syriacpress.com/blog/2021/07/07/bassam-ishak-daas-absence-in-astana-clear-signal-for-a-military-solution-for-syria-only-in-the-interest-of-syrian-regime-and-its-sponsors/|access-date=5 December 2023|website=SyriacPress}}

Ilham Ehmed, President of the SDC's Executive Council, has said:

AANES seeks to provide a miniature model that present the whole of Syria...What has been achieved in northeastern Syria takes precedence over the Geneva negotiations, because the talks are taking place with Syrians and not between representatives of external parties.{{Cite web|last=Ali|first=Jan|date=4 December 2020|title=Belgian delegation discusses conditions in northeastern Syria with SDC|url=https://npasyria.com/en/50774/|access-date=5 December 2023|website=North Press Agency}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.syriandemocraticcouncil.us Syrian Democratic Council U.S mission]

{{Rojava topics}}

Category:2015 establishments in Syria

Category:2015 in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria

Category:2015 in the Syrian civil war

Category:Organizations of the Syrian civil war

Category:Political party alliances in Syria

Category:Politics of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria

Category:Syrian democracy movements

Category:Syrian Democratic Forces