Dr. Mustafa Abdi to Welat TV: Mazloum Abdi Will Soon Announce the Dissolution of the “Autonomous Administration” and the SDF
Welat TV – Erbil
Dr. Mustafa Abdi, a member of the presidential team tasked with overseeing the implementation of the January 29 agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said that SDF commander Mazloum Abdi will soon announce the dissolution of both the “Autonomous Administration” and the SDF, adding that only one administration and unified state institutions will remain as part of full integration into the Syrian state.
In an interview with Welat TV during his participation in the “Rojeva Welat” program on Sunday, May 24, 2026, Abdi said that the return of displaced residents from Serekaniye would be easier than the return of displaced people from Afrin. He also noted that the last batch of SDF prisoners and fighters held by the Syrian government would be released before Eid al-Adha.
Abdi added: “All the bodies of SDF fighters that had been kept in government morgues have been officially handed over.”
*The following is the full interview text:
Welat TV: Parliamentary elections were held today in Hasaka and Kobani. How do you assess the electoral process?
Abdi: The process was carried out peacefully, and no problems emerged. Nine representatives were elected from Hasaka, one from Serekaniye, and two from Kobani, with the winners representing all components of the region.
Welat TV: When will the first parliamentary session begin?
Abdi: The date of the first session has not yet been determined, as there are members who will be appointed by President al-Sharaa before the first session is convened once the full membership is completed.
Welat TV: When will the names of the members selected by the Syrian president be announced?
Abdi: That will happen soon, most likely after the Eid al-Adha holiday. Welat TV: Did you nominate names to the president, for example, from Hasaka? Abdi: Yes, we proposed around 20 names, and the president will choose five of them as he sees fit.
Welat TV: What points remain from the agreement between you and the SDF that have not yet been implemented?
Abdi: The main and important points related to the military and security files have been implemented. Those joining the internal security forces will undergo special military training courses, both males and females, while officers appointed by the government and the SDF are currently attending training courses at the military academy to receive their military ranks.
Welat TV: Are there any obstacles to implementing the military file?
Abdi: There are no problems or obstacles so far, as everything has been agreed upon. There are issues related to official departments such as agriculture and electricity, while others, such as health, education, and appointments, have already been resolved through integration. Military personnel are now receiving their salaries from the government. There had been a problem concerning the Palace of Justice and judges affiliated with the SDF, but this issue was resolved through an exception granted by the minister of justice, allowing them to remain in their positions. Some require judicial training courses, and around 98 judges are expected to begin work at the Palace of Justice soon.
Welat TV: You spoke about the Women’s Protection Units. How was this issue addressed to achieve integration into the Syrian army?
Abdi: Regarding female fighters, some will join the Ministry of Interior in various administrative departments and other positions, and there are no problems in that regard. However, participation in the army in field and combat roles does not currently exist within the Syrian army, and this issue has not yet been resolved. There are no field or military combat assignments for women in the Syrian army, and this matter will be addressed.
Welat TV: Out of the 14 clauses in the agreement, have all provisions been agreed upon, or are there still obstacles to implementation?
Abdi: So far, there are no obstacles. Both sides are determined to move forward with the agreement and implement it in full, starting with Mazloum Abdi and the rest of the leadership. There are positive indications in this regard, as well as directives from President al-Sharaa stressing the importance of achieving integration without problems or bloodshed, moving beyond the military escalation phase toward a phase of reconstruction together.
Welat TV: When will the agreement be officially and fully implemented?
Abdi: No official timeframe has been set because the agreement included several sensitive files, most importantly the military and security files, where major progress has already been achieved. There is also the detainees’ file. The SDF previously operated 11 prisons, but this has been reduced to three prisons that were handed over to the government, meaning the detainees’ file has effectively been resolved. There is also the issue of displaced people. Around 8,000 displaced families from Qamishlo and Hasaka have returned to their homes in Afrin, while another 12,000 families from Serekaniye still need to return. This cannot happen quickly due to logistical difficulties and will require at least one or two months, with all existing obstacles needing to be resolved beforehand. There are also some departments whose administration has not yet been agreed upon, but this issue will be resolved very soon.
Welat TV: After the Syrian government took control of the prisons from the SDF, were there political detainees inside them?
Abdi: Yes, there were many. We received directives to release political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, except those involved in crimes or cases related to citizens’ rights and those convicted by court rulings. The final batch of them will be released tomorrow or the day after.
Welat TV: Were there Kurdish political prisoners among them, whose families say they were detained by the SDF?
Abdi: Apparently, we did not find Kurdish political prisoners in the prisons handed over to the state, only those captured during battles. A small remaining group will be released soon. They also confirmed to us that they no longer hold any detainees and that everyone had been handed over to the Syrian government. We officially received the last batch around a month ago, which included approximately 90 individuals, while another 10 were released without coordination with the government.
Welat TV: Could the SDF still have undisclosed detainees?
Abdi: Since some individuals were released without coordination with the government, that is possible, but we cannot confirm or deny it.
Welat TV: What are the three remaining prisons now managed by the Syrian government?
Abdi: Hasaka Central Prison in the Ghweiran neighborhood, while I do not know the other two.
Welat TV: How many SDF military prisoners remain in government custody, and when will they be released?
Abdi: I have not yet received the list. A meeting was held between the presidential envoy and the governor of Hasaka, and they are expected to be released tomorrow, God willing, unless obstacles emerge.
Welat TV: Did you discuss the issue of the Roj Peshmerga forces and the possibility of their return? Was any agreement reached?
Abdi: The Syrian government has not officially discussed the Roj Peshmerga or the possibility of their integration into the Syrian army as a military force. However, there is no problem with their return as individuals and their joining the Syrian army, as presidential directives do not prevent Kurds from doing so, like any person wishing to join the Syrian army according to their specialization.
Welat TV: Some observers say that the integration process appears positive in the media but that nothing tangible has been achieved on the ground.
Abdi: Positive steps have indeed been achieved. We all know that full integration has not yet been completed and requires time. Many files have been handed over to the government, including institutions, oil facilities, border crossings, and the reopening of many main roads that had been closed between areas. Joint checkpoints have also been established, and many inspection checkpoints around cities have been removed. All this indicates significant rapprochement between the two sides and the creation of a safe environment for understanding. Problems that accumulated over 14 years cannot be resolved overnight.
Welat TV: In many of your meetings with Mazloum Abdi, you referred to the need to dissolve the Revolutionary Youth movement. Has it actually been dissolved?
Abdi: They told us that the Revolutionary Youth are not an official military force but rather civilian activists involved in activities, demonstrations, and organizing civil matters and that they are unrelated to kidnappings, killings, or similar issues. We hope this is true in order to close the chapter on disputes and problems.
Welat TV: Has compulsory conscription in the region been abolished?
Abdi: Since the integration process began, we have not heard of young men being forcibly recruited for compulsory service.
Wlat TV: Many families who lost hope in the return of their sons from among SDF fighters, prisoners, or missing persons and who believe they may have died are demanding the return of their bodies. Is there information about bodies that have not yet been handed over to their families?
Abdi: All the bodies that had been kept by the Syrian government were handed over last week, and the families received them through the Autonomous Administration. Nothing remains, though I do not have information about the exact numbers handed over.
Welat TV: When will displaced families return to their homes in Serekaniye, and what plans are in place?
Abdi: Some families from Sari Kaniye have already returned on their own, and there are no problems for those who are not linked to any issues. The rest are being prepared for return after Eid al-Adha. The delay was due to the focus on the Afrin displaced people and the complications we faced there. As for the displaced people of Sari Kaniye, since the area belongs to Hasaka Province, matters are easier and all procedures are within the province. There is cooperation and coordination among all sides, along with instructions from Damascus to ensure the voluntary return of all displaced persons.
Welat TV: Are there still Turkish governmental institutions in Sari Kaniye, or has the administration been fully handed over to the Syrian government?
Abdi: The military bases are still present, but all other institutions inside the city have been handed over to the Syrian government, the latest of which was the city hospital, which was transferred to the Hasaka Health Directorate.
Welat TV: When will the displaced families currently living in Sari Kaniye return to their original towns and villages to facilitate the return of the city’s residents?
Abdi: The displaced families from Hasaka currently residing in Sari Kaniye do not exceed 1,150 families, and their return will be easy as long as the integration process continues positively, paving the way for those families to return to their homes.
Welat TV: Are there any obstacles to reopening the Nusaybin–Qamishlo border crossing? When could that happen?
Abdi: There are no obstacles to reopening the crossing. Both Turkey and Syria want this because of its strategic importance, but there are currently no active discussions about it. The more progress is made in the integration process, the closer the opening date becomes, especially once all security headquarters and state institutions are handed over to the government.
Welat TV: What is the status of the Qamishlo court handover after disagreements emerged between the two sides?
Abdi: Judges affiliated with the Autonomous Administration who practiced law during recent years wanted to remain in their positions. However, Syrian law requires anyone wishing to practice as a judge to hold a law degree, study judicial sciences, and then receive a presidential decree of appointment. They submitted a list of around 200 judges. Their files were reviewed, and around 100 were selected to travel to the Ministry of Justice in Damascus for interviews based on professional criteria to determine who is qualified to continue judicial work according to their specializations. The number is also larger than the approved staffing quota for Hasaka province, meaning additional judges could be transferred to other provinces. Furthermore, reports about employees being dismissed are completely baseless.
Welat TV: Has the issue concerning the signboard of the Palace of Justice in Hasakah been resolved?
Abdi: Some parties wanted to create confusion and obstruct the course of justice in the country for their own interests, but the state is not paying attention to this. The proof is that the integration process has continued uninterrupted, including prisoner releases, elections, and the return of displaced people. These disputes over something like a signboard must be overcome in order to cooperate in rebuilding the country and ending pointless conflict.
Welat TV: When will the original Kurdish names of cities, towns, and villages that were Arabized under the previous regime be restored?
Abdi: Parliament will convene after Eid al-Adha, and a committee will be formed to restore the original names of cities, towns, and villages and change the names that need to be changed as part of restoring all Kurdish rights.
Welat TV: After the full implementation of the integration agreement, will the autonomous administration and names such as the SDF remain?
Abdi: Mazloum Abdi will soon appear and announce the end of both the SDF and the Autonomous Administration. The Syrian state is one state, the Syrian army is one army, and Syrian security institutions will be unified. Any changes in names or structures will take place democratically through Parliament. Syrian law will apply across all Syrian territory, including Hasaka province, and the internal security forces in Hasakah will include all Syrian communities from the region.
Welat TV: How does the current Syrian government view the Kurds?
Abdi: The new Syrian government, headed by al-Sharaa, is fully convinced of Kurdish rights in Syria. He confirmed that Decree 13 is not a favor but rather a right for the Kurds and that it should not be exploited politically. We hope the Syrian government proves worthy of trust as long as it places Kurdish rights at the forefront. We also hope Kurds will not exploit this situation or make impossible demands of the state but rather act wisely and without fanaticism. This is our country together, and we should not work for external agendas or foreign projects but for the sake of our homeland.
Welat TV: Any final words, Doctor?
Abdi: Our people must preserve what has been offered to the Kurds in Syria today by the government and President al-Sharaa, cooperate with the government rather than boycott it, secure a suitable place for themselves within it, contribute to rebuilding the country, and continue demanding their legitimate rights.