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In Raqqa.. The Regime Blends Legislative and Military Powers, Appoints a Parliamentarian to Lead a Militia
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The appointment of a People's Council member to lead a local militia indicates the Syrian regime's increasing reliance on personal loyalties in managing areas under its control
The Syrian regime's decision to appoint a member of the so-called "People's Council" to lead a local militia has sparked a wave of questions about the motives behind this move and its implications. The regime has assigned the task of leading the "National Defense" militia in the Raqqa countryside area to Jamal Hussein Al-Hussein Al-Shahbar, who is a member of the regime's legislative council.
This step is not unusual in the context of the Syrian conflict, where it combines legislative and military powers in one person. Observers see this appointment as indicative of a strategy followed by the regime to strengthen its grip on different areas.
The choice of a local figure for this position appears to aim at exploiting Al-Shahbar's social and political influence in the region. By combining his role as a member of the People's Council and leader of a local militia, the regime seeks to consolidate the loyalty of local residents and ensure effective control on the ground.
This decision raises concerns about the increasing militarization of civil institutions in Syria and the deepening of sectarian and tribal divisions. It also raises questions about the independence of the legislative authority and its ability to perform its oversight role in light of this overlap with military tasks.
On the other hand, this appointment may reflect the Syrian regime's lack of human resources, forcing it to rely on multi-role personalities to manage different areas, even those not under its control. It may also be an indicator of the growing influence of local militias at the expense of the regular army.
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