On this historic day for Syria and the Syrian people, France welcomes the fall of Bachar al-Assad and his regime on 8 December 2024, after more than 13 years of extremely violent repression of his own people. The Syrians have suffered too much. Bachar al-Assad leaves in his wake a country that has been bled dry, emptied of a large portion of its population, which, if not forced into exile, has been slaughtered, tortured and bombarded with chemical weapons by the regime and its allies. France pays tribute to all its victims.
While the regime constantly set the Syrians against each other, while Syria now lies fragmented and shattered, the time for unity has come.
France calls for weapons to fall silent, for the democratic institutions to be preserved, for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria to be respected. It calls for a peaceful political transition, one that respects the diversity of the Syrian people, and protects civilians and all minorities, in accordance with international law. It calls on all Syrians to unite, to reconcile, and to reject all forms of extremism.
Steadfast in its position and in its solidarity with the Syrian people since the start of the revolution in 2011, France now invites its partners to do everything in their power to help the Syrians find the path towards reconciliation and reconstruction, through an inclusive political solution, in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 and with the will of the Syrian people. France will play its full part in this.