ALEPPO, Syria – After months of rising tensions, a significant agreement has been reached concerning the status of the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo, Syria’s second biggest city. The deal, finalized earlier this month, marks a key turning point in efforts to stabilize the fractured northern city and foster peaceful coexistence following the fall of the Assad regime.
The agreement was reached between the Syrian interim administration and local councils from Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh. A total of 14 points were agreed to ensure the promotion of peace, integration, and civil harmony within the broader Aleppo municipality. Nuri Sexo (pictured above), Co-Chair of the General Assembly of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, played a central role in the negotiations alongside representatives from the Damascus-based government.
Under the terms of the agreement, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) completed a phased military withdrawal from the city, relocating hundreds of fighters east of the Euphrates River. These withdrawals have taken place under the protection of forces under the Damascus government.
Meanwhile, the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) will remain stationed within the neighborhoods, and retain responsibility for overseeing checkpoints in coordination with Damascus security personnel. Several of these checkpoints will be jointly supervised, with the use of weapons restricted to the Asayish and Syria’s Ministry of Interior. The women’s arm of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish Jin) has continued to operate and so far have been able to successfully work alongside Damascus’ personnel.
As part of the normalization process, the right to free movement between the Kurdish neighborhoods and the rest of Aleppo has been restored. Barriers have been dismantled, and prisoners have been exchanged between the SDF and the authorities in Damascus. Transportation routes between the neighborhoods and other parts of the city have been reopened after a four-month closure.
Civilian institutions and local councils will continue to operate in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh until a long-term political resolution is achieved under the Joint Central Committees that have been formed for the negotiations between Damascus and the Autonomous Administration in North-East Syria.
The agreement, known informally as the April 1st Aleppo Agreement, is widely viewed as a milestone and positive initial step in the ongoing dialogue between the Autonomous Administration and the Syrian interim government. Tensions in Aleppo had intensified briefly following the to the rapid collapse of the Assad regime and increased aggression of Turkish-backed militias in the surrounding areas, raising concerns of renewed conflict.
However, the successful implementation of the agreement has sparked cautious optimism. Observers suggest that it may pave the way for further nonviolent negotiations between all factions operating in Syria. This has proven to be true following the recent announcement of a ceasefire on Tishreen Dam — where Turkey and Turkish-backed factions have been attacking the SDF since December.