General Secretariat of the Presidency (Syria)

The General Secretariat of the Presidency (Arabic: الأمانة العامة لرئاسة الجمهورية, romanized: al-Amāna al-'Āmma li-Riʾāsat al-Jumhūriyya) is a senior administrative body within the Syrian government responsible for overseeing the administrative, organizational, financial, and legal affairs of the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic. It serves as the chief coordinator between the presidency and other government institutions, including the cabinet, parliament, and military agencies. Established in December 2023 under President Bashar al-Assad, the secretariat replaced the former Ministry of Presidential Affairs. Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, it has continued to operate under the transitional government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.^[1][2]

The secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General, a position appointed directly by the president with no fixed term. The current Secretary-General is Maher al-Sharaa, who assumed office on 5 April 2025.^[3] The role is often regarded as equivalent to that of a prime minister in influence, though it does not hold that title officially.^[4]

The General Secretariat was established by a decree issued by President Bashar al-Assad on 13 December 2023, as part of a broader restructuring of the Syrian presidency.^[5] This reform dissolved the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and transferred all its staff and responsibilities to the new secretariat, which reports directly to the president rather than operating as a separate ministry.^[6] The creation of the secretariat was intended to streamline administrative functions and enhance the president's control over executive operations.

During the Assad era, the position of Secretary-General remained vacant from its inception until the regime's collapse on 8 December 2024. Notable figures associated with the secretariat included Major General Ali Mamlouk, who served as National Security Advisor, and Ali Keda, Assistant Secretary-General for Cabinet Affairs.^[7][8]

Following the overthrow of the Assad regime and the establishment of a transitional government under Ahmed al-Sharaa, Abdul Rahman Salama was appointed as the first post-Ba'athist Secretary-General in late 2024.^[9] Salama served until 5 April 2025, when he was succeeded by Maher al-Sharaa, the brother of President Ahmed al-Sharaa.^[10] This appointment has been described by observers as a move to consolidate power within the al-Sharaa family during the transitional period.^[11]

The General Secretariat plays a pivotal role in the day-to-day operations of the Syrian presidency. Its primary functions include:

• Managing the president's schedule, official meetings, and state visits.
• Coordinating the implementation of presidential directives across government bodies.
• Drafting presidential decrees, resolutions, and laws.
• Supervising the administrative, financial, and legal affairs of the presidency.
• Providing advisory reports on political, economic, and social matters to aid presidential decision-making.
• Representing the president at official events when required.

The secretariat also oversees specialized units, such as the Office of Cabinet Affairs and national security advisory roles, ensuring seamless integration between the presidency and the broader executive branch.^[12]