THE RESTRUCTURE OF THE SELF- ADMINISTRATION IN DEIR-EZ-ZOR SITUATION REPORT 21 September 2020

Contents Key Points ...... 2

Introduction ...... 3

Background...... 3

Proposed structure ...... 5

Current progress ...... 7

Analysis and forecasting...... 9

Humanitarian impact ...... 10

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KEY POINTS

 There has been growing demand from the local Arab population in eastern Deir-ez-Zor for greater political representation and participation.

 Commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, held a meeting with the heads of the Deir-ez-Zor military civil councils to resume restructuring of the civil administration in Deir-ez-Zor.

 The new structure proposes dividing Deir-ez-Zor governorate into three main administrative regions; form a local sub-civil council in each of the administrative regions; and conduct a review and possibly restructure the Deir-ez-Zor legislative and civil councils.

 The complex tribal structure of Deir-ez-Zor resulted in amending the boundaries of the three administrative regions and could possibly lead to establishing a fourth one.

 The restructuring, if implemented, can reduce the tribal tension in Deir-ez-Zor and improve access to local humanitarian and civil society organization

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to hand over the management of the Arab- INTRODUCTION majority region to the Arab representatives in the area. In response, the US-led IC Eastern Deir-ez-Zor is currently under the representatives agreed to push forward earlier administrative control of the largely Kurdish-led promises of an administrative restructuring of self-administration and the military control of its civil administration of Deir-ez-Zor with a view to armed forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces better enfranchising Arab communities through (SDF). Several actors have demanded greater local council structures. participation of the Arab population within the administrative and governing bodies. Soon after, and on 17 August 2019, the SDF Additionally, since August 2020, tension Commander in Chief, Mazloum Abdi, held a between the SDF and Deir-ez-Zor tribes, meeting with the Chairman of Deir-ez-Zor particularly the Aqeedat tribe, have escalated military council, Ahmad Al-Khabil (known as Abu following the assassination of three prominent Khawla), and the co-president of the Deir-ez-Zor Aqeedat tribal leaders. This prompted local civil council, Dr. Ghassan Al-Youssef, alongside protests against the SDF across Deir-ez-Zor.1 several military leaders. In the meeting, finalization of the restructuring of the Deir-ez- The violent nature of the protests, which Zor civil administration was called for, with a 15 included an attack on SDF headquarters un March 2020 deadline. Hawayej (Hawayej subdistrict), prompted an armed reaction from the SDF’s Internal Security This step comes as an attempt to reduce the Forces (ISF) – previously known as Asayish – who growing tension between both the local tribes fired live bullets into the air to disperse and between tribes and the Kurdish-majority protestors; injuring eleven in the town of self-administration. If implemented, the Hawayej. restructuring could lead to a significant improvement in access to local humanitarian and The SDF and International Coalition (IC) sought civil society organizations, ending the movement to de-escalate the situation in Deir-ez-Zor restrictions imposed on some organizations through reconciliation meetings with tribal across the Deir-ez-Zor governorate. leaders – particularly those from the Aqeedat tribe – and on 6 August, IC representatives held a meeting with a delegation of tribal leaders at BACKGROUND the Al-Omar oil field in eastern Deir-ez-Zor. Local sources reported that during the meeting, In August 2019, the US State Department sought tribal leaders called on coalition representatives to amend the structure of the civil

1 On 2 August, the Al-Aqeedat Tribe announced the assassination of Sheikh Motshar Hamoud Al-Jadaan Al-Haval and the attempted assassination (and subsequent wounding) of Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil Abboud Al-Jadaan in Hawayej, Hawayej subdistrict. Earlier, on 31 July, masked gunmen assassinated Aalawi Salman Al-Weis, a prominent figure of the Al-Baqara tribe, in the town of Dahleh, Khasham subdistrict.

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administration in the Deir-ez-Zor governorate in Hassan Cougar, political advisor to the self- response to several complaints from sheiks and administration in Deir-ez-Zor, assembled a leaders from the Aqeedat tribe (one of two main delegation consisting of representatives of the tribes in Deir-ez-Zor governorate). The Baqarah tribe (Iyad Al-Khalaf, Ahmed Al-Ayed, complaints related to leadership within Deir-ez- Muhammad Al-Muhaimid, and Ramadan Al- Zor's civil administration, and focused on the Habash) and representatives of the Deir-ez-Zor largely Kurdish management, with the limited legislative council (Thamer al-Shammari and Arab representation coming from the Baqarah Muhammad al-Rajab), a representative of the tribe.2 Shaitat clan (Abd al-Razzaq al-Rahim) and a representative Aqeedat tribe to meet with the The restructuring initiative has caused friction International Coalition advisor, William Robak, with many Kurdish individuals, most notably to discuss the details of the restructuring Haval Hamza, general supervisor of civil process.5,6,7,8,9 administration, Haval Rojhat, supervisor of municipalities, and Haval Farzat, supervisor of The meeting led to the formation of a committee oil wells, all in Deir-ez-Zor. Several members of (hereafter referred to as the restructuring the Deir-ez-Zor administration have also committee) tasked with finalizing the expressed their concern, including Ghassan Al- restructuring process of the civil administration Youssef, chairman of the civil council, and his in Deir-ez-Zor.10 The committee began deputy Abdul Razzaq Al-Rahim, Jihad Al-Luji, conducting meetings with local stakeholders and chairman of the services committee, and Kamal tribal leaders before coming to halt due to the Al-Mousa, chairman of the education Turkish-led Peace Spring military operation and committee.3,4 the sudden, partial withdrawal of US forces in late October 2019. Despite the resentment, with pressure from the US State Department, Haval Hamza and Haval

2 Local sources reported that almost 70% of the Arab staff in the Deir-ez-Zor civil administration are members of the Baqarah tribe. 3 Local sources reported that some Kurdish officials tried to convince their representatives against the proposed restructuring. This was confirmed by some members of the Legislative Council who have good relations with Haval Hamza. 4 Haval means ‘friend’ in Kurdish. They are usually members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) or the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and control the decisions and policies of civil and military administration bodies in the region. 5 Iyad Al-Khalaf is a deserted Syrian army colonel from the al-Baqarah tribe and was a member of the legislative council. 6 Muhammad Al-Muhaimid and Ramadan Al-Habash are both from the Al-Obeidat clan of the al-Baqarah tribe and are notables in the town of Kisreh . 7 Thamer al-Shammari and Muhammad al-Rajab are founding members of the Kurdish-led Future for Syria political party. 8 Abdul Razzaq Al-Rahim is the Deputy of Ghassan Al-Youssef, the president of the Deir-ez-Zor civil council (The Executive Office). 9 Enab Baladi, After a report on the exclusion of the Arab component ... an American official meets with the head of Deir Ezzor Civil Council,’ May 2020. 10 The committee consists of Haval Hamzah, general supervisor of civil administration, Haval Hassan Cougar, political advisor, Haval Bregen, reportedly a supervisor of the women’s committee, members of the legislative council such as Thamer Al-Shammari, Muhammad Al-Rajab, Dhiab Al-Jilat and, Rahma Al- Ahmad, and members of the Deir-ez-Zor women’s committee including Shehrazad Al-Jasem.

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PROPOSED STRUCTURE

Table 1: Proposed structure of the Deir-ez-Zor civil administration

The Western Region

Kasra Canton

The administration boundaries of this region includes the Sur and Kisrah subdistrict. The region center is proposed to be located at the town of Kasra.

Figure 1: Map of proposed structure of Deir-ez-Zor civil administration The Central Region At the beginning of 2020, the restructuring committee resumed its efforts to complete its Basira Canton work on the civil administration in Deir-ez-Zor. It announced that the restructuring process would The administration boundaries of this region includes the be conducted through three main stages: Basira and Thiban subdistrict. The region center is dividing Deir-ez-Zor into three administrative proposed to be located at the town of Basira. regions; forming a local sub-civil council in each

region; and conducting a review and possibly restructuring the Deir-ez-Zor legislative and civil councils. The Eastern Region The administrative division Hajin Canton The new structure proposed dividing Deir-ez- The administration boundaries of this region includes the Zor governorate into three main administrative Hajin and Al-Susah subdistrict. The region center is regions, also known as Cantons, (see Table 1, proposed to be located at the town of Hajin. Figure 1).

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The sub-civil council Table 2: Details of the Deir-ez-Zor civil council

Each of the three administrative regions will be Deir-ez-Zor civil council administered through an independent, local sub- civil council: Al-Basirah council, Kasra council, and Hajin council. Each will consist of 48 1 Womens’ Committee members (17 female and 31 male), two co- Malak Al-Ibrahim presidents and two co-deputies. Council 2 Public Relations Committee members will be elected in consultation with Nouri Al-Hmeish local stakeholders and tribal leaders in each region, provided that the elected member is over 3 Social Justice Committee thirty years of age, university educated, with a Nour Al-Sa’eed clean criminal record, and has resided in the 4 Homeland Security Committee relevant administrative region for a period of six Bassem Al-Teef, Safa Abdul-Qader months or more.11 5 Finance Committee The three local sub-civil councils of Al-Basirah, Zakaria Al-Ma’zee Kasra, and Hajin will be under the direct supervision of the Deir-ez-Zor civil council, also 6 Self Defense Committee known as the executive office. Mohamad Al-Hassan, Leila Al-Abdallah

7 Youth and Sports Committee The Deir-ez-Zor civil council Alaa Al-Saleh, Nourieh Al-Issa The Deir-ez-Zor civil council was established on 8 Education Committee 24 September 2017 and is also commonly known Kamal Al Mousa, Heba El Hassan as the executive office. The council is composed of 19 members, 12 committees (Table 2), and 9 Health and Environment Committee headed by Dr. Ghassan Al-Youssef. It is currently Hussam Al-Ali, Sherine Al-Majoul based in the town of Kasra, (Kasra subdistrict). 10 Local Administration and Services Committee The new structure proposes adding a Cultural Jihad Al-Leji, Hania Al-Mohamad

Committee to the existing 12 committees and 11 Economic and Agriculture Committee relocating the civil council's headquarters from Mohamad Al-Bashir, Khatoun Al-Khalaf Kasra town to the Al-Maamel area, locally known as the ‘seven kilometers area’, north of Deir-ez- 12 Social Affairs and Labor Committee Zor city. Local sources also reported that the Wanam Al-Moujawal

11 Each of the three subsidiary civil councils are expected to receive an independent budget (estimated at 12 billion Syrian pounds).

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restructuring could include replacing the vast responsible for auditing and inspecting the work majority of the council members including Jihad of the Deir-ez-Zor civil and legislative councils as Al-Laji, chairman of the services committee; well as the three sub-civil councils. The Kamal Al-Mousa, chairman of the Education Inspection Authority will fall under the Committee; Hussam Al-Ali, chairman of the supervision of the self-administration general Health and Environment Committee; Zakaria Al- council in Ar-Raqqa governorate. Moazi, Chairman of the finance committee; and Tariq Al-Rashed, head of the humanitarian CURRENT PROGRESS affairs office.

The legislative council The restructuring committee has conducted several meetings with tribal leaders, members of The legislative council of Deir-ez-Zor was civil councils and municipalities, social actors and established in February 2018 and has direct local stakeholders in each administrative region supervision over the Deir-ez-Zor civil council.12 to present the new administrative structure. The It is headed by Khalaf Al-Asaad and his deputy proposed restructure faced several minor and Theiab al-Jilat and consists of 150 major from local actors, which resulted in representatives, and 12 committees amendments to the plan. corresponding to the structure of the civil council. Representatives function as Objections spokespeople for the regions, subdistricts, towns The most notable objection came from and villages of the Deir-ez-Zor province.13 The community leaders of Kasra and Sur subdistricts, new structure proposes reducing the number of who had, under the new administrative division, the council members from 150 to 75, and been grouped under a single western region, appointing a male and a female as co-presidents known as the Kasra Canton. According to local and co-deputies. sources, community leaders of both subdistricts The control and inspection refused to merge Kasra and Sur subdistricts into one administrative region, claiming that the authority difference in the tribal structure between the The new structure proposes establishing an two would create social and tribal tensions 14 independent control and inspection authority between the local populations. Tribal leaders

12 On 29 December 2018, Marwan Al-Fateh, president of the legislative council in Deir-ez-Zor, was assassinated by alleged ISIS members on the road between Al-Hasakeh and Deir-ez-Zor. 13 On 17 June 2020, local media sources reported that the president of the Deir Ez-Zor legislative council, Khalaf Al-Asaad, was dismissed over corruption charges. 14 Sur is majority Al-Aqeidat (Bou-Kamel and Al-Bqayyer, and Bou-Freo) whereas Kasra is majority Al-Baqarah. Bou-Kamel and Al-Bqayyer want to be placed with Basira subdistrict where the tribe has a majority.

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have also raised concerns about sharing one financial budget, claiming that it would fail to cover the needs of villages and cities in both subdistricts.

Amendments

Table 3: Proposed restructure for the Deir-ez-Zor civil administration

The Western Region

Kasra Canton

The administration boundaries of this region includes the Kisrah subdistrict and the center is located at the town of Figure 2: Proposed restructure of the Deir-ez-Zor Kasra. civil administration In response, on June 2020, the self-

administration changed the three administrative regions (while maintaining the other aspects of The Central Region the restructure).

Although the amended structure solved the Basira Canton issue of Kasra and Sur subdistricts, it raised new The administration boundaries of this region includes the objections from community leaders of Thiban Basira and Sur subdistricts. The center is proposed to be subdistrict. Leaders from Thiban rejected the located at the town of Basira. merging of Thiban subdistrict within the Hajin Canton (in the eastern region), and demanded either a relocation back to the Basira Canton, or the establishment of a new, fourth canton, for The Eastern Region Thiban subdistrict alone. Although this issue has not been addressed yet, local sources indicate Hajin Canton that the restructuring committee is considering establishing a fourth administrative region, the The administration boundaries of this region includes the Thiban Canton. Thiban, Hajin, and Al-Susah subdistricts. The region center is proposed to be located at the town of Hajin.

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Dismissals Al-Baqara have dominated the administrative and service provision sector, whereas the Al- In addition to the objection and consequent Aqeedat have dominated the oil trade and fuel amendments, the dismissal of members within smuggling industries in Deir-ez-Zor.15,16 the restructuring committee can be attributed to the delay in implementation. In May 2020, Haval The Al-Aqeedat tribe has long complained that Hamza, general supervisor of civil the Al-Baqarah tribe holds a large portion of civil administration in Deir-ez-Zor, let go of Hussam administration positions in the region. Al-Ali and Sherine Al-Majoul, two members of Complaints escalated after the Al-Aqeedat tribe the restructuring committee. The dismissal came lost its grip on the fuel trade, largely as a result of in relation to claims of financial corruption in the US intensifying its efforts to combat oil their position as co-chairs of the health smuggling and the introduction of the Caesar Act committee at the civil council. Additionally, in and its subsequent sanctions, which led to the July 2020, Jihad al-Luji, a member of the almost complete halt of smuggling operations. restructuring committee and the co-chair of the It appears that the self-administration has services committee, also at the civil council introduced the restructure as a means of resigned from his position for undisclosed appeasing the local Arab population in general, reasons. and Al-Aqeedat tribe in particular, given the continuous objections and protests of Al- ANALYSIS AND Aqeedat tribesmen against the Kurdish rule in the region. If implemented, the restructuring FORECASTING could ease the growing Arab-Kurdish tension in Deir-ez-Zor by providing the Arab population Since the self-administration established control with greater opportunity to engage in the over Deir-ez-Zor, it has relied on the complex region's administrative and political decision- web of tribal dynamics and loyalties and the making, and services provision in the long-term. support of tribal leaders to provide popular legitimacy and serve as a bulwark against high Until then, tension between SDF and the local levels of ethnic tensions across Kurdish- Arab population in Deir-ez-Zor is expected to controlled territory. The two major tribes in escalate and potentially lead to violent Deir-ez-Zor, Al-Baqarah and Al-Aqeedat, split confrontations, especially in areas of eastern control over significant sectors in the region; the Deir-ez-Zor. As a result, it is expected that the SDF could expand its search and arrest

15 The areas of the Al-Baqarah clan in the western countryside were among the first areas controlled by the self-administration in the Deir-ez-Zor governorate and consequently sought control over a large part of the administrative positions in the civil council in Deir-ez-Zor, its committees and municipalities. 16 One of the most prominent smuggling lines of crude oil and fuel in the northeast is managed by Muhammad Eid Al-Tala'a, also known as the Hyena, and Rabah al-Lous, both members of al-Aqedat tribe in Shiheil, Basira subdistrict.

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