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@MArizanti โ€ข 26,330 subscribers

Levant contributor: @turkiyetodaycom | MENA Analyst: @CapitolInstitut | Co-founder @inhalationof | Human Rights Advocate | ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑ/๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฏ based in Sweden

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Over the past few months, Iโ€™ve seen a wave of fear- sometimes even anger- directed at Syriaโ€™s new government. Some of this comes from predictable sources: Assad loyalists clinging to a fallen regime and PKK supporters pushing their own agenda. But thereโ€™s also unease among secular, liberal Syrians who reject both Assad and the PKK. I get it. Change is unsettling, and in November, many of us feared the worst: โ€œIs this ISIS 2.0?โ€ Yet, within days, a different picture emerged. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies didnโ€™t fight like fanatics. They operated as a disciplined, strategic force, avoiding civilian casualties and atrocities. Assad fled. His demoralized troops laid down their arms. The regime crumbled- not because of chaos, but because of a calculated, unified push. HTS, once a hardline group, has evolved significantly since 2016, becoming more pragmatic and governance-focused. To topple Assad, they allied with some hardline jihadist factions, a move that raised eyebrows. Since taking power in December, President Ahmad al-Sharaa has faced the delicate task of holding this coalition together while steering Syria toward stability. It hasnโ€™t been flawless. Some factions in his government have pushed for strict Sharia-inspired laws, like modesty codes or public morality campaigns. Each time, public outcry- often led by Syriaโ€™s diverse civil societyโ€”has forced a course correction. Early photo-ops featuring the Shahada flag, mistaken by some for Taliban symbolism, sparked concern. But the pattern is clear: Al-Sharaaโ€™s government is responsive to its people. For some Islamists in the coalition, the dream may be a rigid theocracy like Afghanistan. But history shows that extremism doesnโ€™t build nations- it fractures them. Al-Sharaa seems to grasp this. His actions- prioritizing reconstruction, inclusivity, and law enforcement- suggest a leader focused on unity over ideology. Whether all his allies share this vision remains a question, but so far, heโ€™s navigated these tensions with remarkable skill. Letโ€™s be honest: Al-Sharaa is Syriaโ€™s best hope. The alternatives are grim. Mazloum Abdiโ€™s PKK-aligned forces, despite billions in aid, have failed to deliver basic services, leaving chaos in their wake. Moaz al-Khatib, a political chameleon, lacks the credibility to unify the country. The early Free Syrian Army leaders? Too many devolved into warlords, not statesmen. Contrast that with Al-Sharaaโ€™s track record. In Idlib, under his leadership, HTS built functional governance despite relentless pressure from Turkey, the West, Assad, Russia, and Iran. Idlib recorded Syriaโ€™s lowest rates of human rights violations over the past five years, according to independent monitors. It was the only region where civilians could walk without fear of militias. Thatโ€™s not just rhetoricโ€”itโ€™s a measurable achievement. Al-Sharaa is playing a tough hand with pragmatism and resolve. As Trump recently noted, heโ€™s a โ€œtough guyโ€ with a โ€œreal shotโ€ at stabilizing Syria. I agree. Heโ€™s not perfect, and the road ahead is fraught. But for a nation scarred by decades of tyranny and war, Al-Sharaa offers something rare: a chance to rebuild, not just rule. Letโ€™s give him the space to prove it.

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The world has waited long enough. Somaliland must be recognized as an independent nation now - not next year, not after more diplomatic delays. Every day that passes gives more power to authoritarian regimes looking to control one of the most important regions on Earth. Letโ€™s be clear: Somalia is a failed state. Its government doesnโ€™t fight terrorism effectively, canโ€™t protect its own people, and has a terrible human rights record. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has shown again and again that he is not a leader, but a threat to stability. Despite this, the international community continues to act as if Somalia is in control - when it clearly is not. In contrast, Somaliland is functioning like a real country. It holds free elections, keeps order, and runs its institutions - all without help from the global powers. Its people have built a working democracy, and yet they are ignored by the West. Now Somalia is making false claims over Somalilandโ€™s key infrastructure - like Berbera Port and Berbera Airport โ€” trying to take control of what doesnโ€™t belong to them. This is nothing more than a power grab, using the same bullying tactics we see from Putin. Somalia wants to crush Somalilandโ€™s independence, even though it canโ€™t manage its own territory. And what does the world do? Nothing. It stands by, frozen, while aggressors move in. Russia, China, and Iran are not waiting. Theyโ€™re watching this power vacuum and moving fast to expand their influence. They want control of key trade routes, ports, and governments - and if the West doesnโ€™t act, they will succeed. Somaliland is the frontline - not just geographically, but politically. It stands between democracy and dictatorship. Berbera Port matters. It sits right at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait - where nearly 12% of all global trade passes through. If Iranโ€™s militias or Chinaโ€™s navy gain a foothold there, it would be a disaster for global trade and security. The EU and its allies must step up. This is about more than loyalty to a democratic partner - itโ€™s about protecting our own interests. Recognizing Somaliland gives us a trusted ally, access to key intelligence, and a stable partner in a region where the West is losing ground. It would send a clear message: we stand with democracy, not chaos. Somalia, meanwhile, is collapsing. More than half its population lives in poverty, and its government does little to help. Somalia ranks last in Africa on the Human Development Index. Thatโ€™s not just a number - itโ€™s a failure of leadership. So why is the world still pretending Somalia should speak for Somaliland? Somaliland is already a nation in everything but name. It governs, it protects, and it builds. The only thing missing is the worldโ€™s recognition. Refusing to acknowledge Somaliland doesnโ€™t just insult its people - it empowers pirates, warlords, and hostile regimes. The West is running out of time. Iran is turning Yemen into a weapons base. China is expanding its reach. Ships are being harassed in the Red Sea. The signs couldnโ€™t be clearer. To ignore Somaliland is to invite chaos. To recognize it is to support peace, democracy, and a more secure future. The choice is obvious. The time is now.

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