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Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa replaced several government officials and ministers on Saturday, including his own brother from a key position that had drawn accusations of nepotism, in a partial government overhaul, state media reported.
The new appointments, announced by Syria’s official SANA news agency, include former Homs governor Abdul Rahman Badreddine al-Aama replacing Sharaa’s brother Maher as secretary-general of the Syrian presidency.
Maher al-Sharaa had served as secretary-general to the presidency in Damascus. His appointment last year triggered comparisons to the practices of former Syrian President Bashar Assad and his father and predecessor, Hafez Assad.
Bashar Assad’s brother, Maher Assad, commanded Syria’s 4th Armored Division, a unit accused by opposition activists of killings, torture, extortion and drug trafficking. Former first lady Asma Assad also headed the influential Syrian Trust for Development.
It was not immediately clear what role, if any, Maher al-Sharaa would hold following the reshuffle. He is a physician who previously served as Syria’s interim health minister.
Information Minister Hamza Almustafa and Agriculture Minister Amjad Badr were replaced by Khaled Fawaz Zaarour and Bassel Hafez al-Sweidan, respectively.
Zaarour previously served as dean of the faculty of media at Damascus University.
Sharaa also appointed new governors for the provinces of Homs, Latakia, Deir Ezzor and Quneitra.
The reasons behind the reshuffle were not immediately clear.
Syria’s transitional cabinet, formed in March 2025 after the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar Assad in 2024, has largely been dominated by figures close to Sharaa.
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