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The Syrian Kurdistan Front's concerns about the Sharaa-Abdi agreement

The Kurdish Front in Syria views with suspicion the agreement signed on March 10, 2025, between the newly appointed Syrian administration leader Ahmad al-Shara and the Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi. Therefore, we have deemed it necessary to clarify the points of agreement and disagreement we have, considering the latter as significant risks.
There is no doubt that we support the fight against the remnants of the previous regime, as mentioned in Article 6 of the aforementioned agreement, but we completely reject any targeting of civilian Alawites. We also fully support Article 3 of the agreement, which calls for a ceasefire across all Syrian territories. Furthermore, we endorse Article 5, which ensures the return of all displaced Syrians to their towns and villages while guaranteeing their protection from the Syrian state. Last but not least, we see Article 2 as a first step towards achieving equality regarding the constitutional rights of Kurds.
However, there are many points of disagreement in this agreement. It does not in any way meet the demands of the Kurdish Front in Syria concerning power-sharing and decentralization; rather, it seeks to have Damascus control all authorities. Likewise, Article 4, which states that “all civilian and military institutions in Northeast Syria will be integrated into the Syrian state administration, including border crossings, airports, and oil and gas fields,” leaves no room for Kurdish administration, neither at the administrative nor political level.
Another important point is that under this agreement, Kurds are not recognized as a nationality, nor is there any provision granting the Kurdish language official status in Syria or even allowing its use as an administrative language in Kurdish areas. Additionally, the agreement does not mention any commitment to establish a fair educational system that guarantees Kurds the opportunity to learn their mother tongue alongside Arabic.
Another point of concern is Article 1 of the agreement, which states, “ensuring the rights of all Syrians in representation and participation in the political process and all state institutions based on competence, regardless of their religious and ethnic backgrounds.” This may initially seem to propose a principle of equality, but in reality, we see it as a systematic exclusion of Kurds, especially since it ignores the long-standing history of systematic marginalization of infrastructure and education in Kurdish regions during Baath rule, which has hindered the development of Kurdish generations. Kurds, who were stripped of their citizenship in the 1960s and lived for decades as “stateless,” were denied higher education and access to many professions, making competition for government jobs “based on competence” unfair. Furthermore, the refusal to recognize Kurdish identity may lead to the prohibition of Kurdish parties in the future, thereby preventing Kurdish representation in the upcoming parliament and government. This concern is compounded by the previous lack of invitations extended to representatives of Kurdish parties to attend and participate in what was referred to as the Syrian National Dialogue Conference, limiting invitations to independent Kurdish figures who only represent themselves.
We also support Article 7 of the agreement, which states, “rejecting calls for division, hate speech, and attempts to sow discord among all components of Syrian society,” but we reject the use of such phrases as a pretext to suppress freedom of expression and restrict open political discussions. Consequently, what defines the term “calls for division”? Do they mean that calls for a decentralized or federative Syria are calls for secession or division? Is defending this considered an attempt to sow discord?
Aside from the issues of the rights of components in Syria, this agreement does not include any clear commitment to achieving gender equality or taking measures to support women and combat historical discrimination against them.
We reiterate that Mazloum Abdi's signing of this agreement as a military leader is unacceptable, as political decisions should be made by politicians, not military personnel. We stress that this agreement undermines all efforts aimed at unifying the Kurdish ranks and forming a joint Kurdish delegation to Damascus to negotiate Kurdish rights.
This agreement, in its current form, merely reinforces absolute centralization and reproduces exclusionary and discriminatory policies, hindering the direction of Syria toward a unified, democratic, and pluralistic state, where true equality among all components can be achieved.
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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