If you haven't checked the news since 2023, you're in for a shock. The political map of the Middle East basically got set on fire and redrawn. For decades, the answer to who is president of Syria was a simple, one-word response: Assad. But things moved fast—terrifyingly fast for some—at the end of 2024.
Bashar al-Assad is gone. He’s currently living in Russia, having been granted asylum after his government collapsed in December 2024.
Right now, as of January 2026, the man sitting in the People’s Palace in Damascus is Ahmed al-Sharaa. You might know him by his former nom de guerre, Abu Mohammad al-Julani. He’s the head of the transitional government and has been the face of the "New Syria" for just over a year now.
Why the Name Ahmed al-Sharaa Matters
Most people outside the region still struggle to connect the suit-wearing diplomat seen at the UN with the rebel commander who led Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Honestly, it's a wild rebranding. He officially took the title of President for the transitional period on January 29, 2025.
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It wasn't a standard election. There weren't booths and "I Voted" stickers. Instead, he was appointed during the Syrian Revolution Victory Conference. The move was designed to give the country a single point of authority while everything else was in shambles.
He signed a "Constitutional Declaration" in March 2025. This document is essentially the country's temporary GPS. It says Syria is a presidential system and, interestingly, it sets a five-year window for the transition. That means, technically, we aren't supposed to see a full-blown national election until around 2029 or 2030.
The President of Syria and the 2026 Reality
Walking through Damascus today is nothing like it was three years ago. The giant posters of Bashar are gone. In their place? Mostly flags and symbols of the revolution. But being the president of Syria in 2026 isn't exactly a victory lap. Sharaa is currently juggling a dozen fires at once.
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- Reconstruction: We are talking about a $216 billion bill to fix what was broken. Sharaa recently met with Egyptian business leaders to try and get private money flowing into the country.
- The SDF Standpoint: This is the big one. In the northeast, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are still a major player. There have been fresh clashes in Aleppo this month—January 2026—between the new national army and Kurdish fighters.
- Minority Fears: If you're Alawite or Christian, the last year has been stressful. There have been protests in Latakia and Tartous. People are scared that the new government, which has roots in Islamist movements, won't actually protect them despite Sharaa’s repeated promises.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a common misconception that the war just "ended" when Assad fled to Moscow. It didn't. It just changed shape.
The current administration is trying hard to look like a professional, inclusive state. They’ve got a cabinet that includes a Christian and a Druze member. They’ve even had meetings with U.S. officials like Ambassador Tom Barrack. But the shadow of the past is long. Critics point out that while the name has changed to Ahmed al-Sharaa, the power still sits heavily with his inner circle from the HTS days.
Also, don't let the "interim" tag fool you. Sharaa is functioning with full executive power. He’s the commander-in-chief. He appoints a third of the legislative assembly himself. He's basically the architect of the new Syrian state, for better or worse.
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The Road Ahead
So, what does this mean for you if you're tracking the region? It means the question of who is president of Syria is no longer about a family dynasty. It's about whether a former rebel can actually transition into a statesman who can keep a fractured country together.
The U.S. and the UN are watching Damascus like hawks. There’s a massive push for "transitional justice"—fancy talk for holding people accountable for the horrors of the last 15 years. Whether Sharaa can deliver that while also fighting off ISIS remnants and negotiating with the Kurds is the $200 billion question.
Actionable Next Steps for Tracking Syrian Leadership:
- Monitor the Constitutional Committee: Watch for updates on the drafting of the permanent constitution, which will define if the 2029-2030 elections will actually be open to opposition parties.
- Follow Reconstruction Tenders: Keep an eye on which countries (like Egypt or Turkey) are winning contracts in Damascus; this usually signals who has the most political leverage over the Sharaa administration.
- Check SDF-Damascus Relations: Any major flare-up in Aleppo or Deir ez-Zor is a direct signal that the central government's authority is being challenged, which impacts Sharaa's standing.
- Watch the UN Security Council Reports: These monthly briefings are the most reliable way to see if the "interim" status is being accepted or if the international community is souring on the current leadership.
The situation is fluid. One year in, Ahmed al-Sharaa has proven he can take power, but 2026 will be the year that proves if he can actually govern.