Syrian regime appoints ambassador to Egypt, Arab League following reinstatement

The Syrian regime on Sunday appointed an ambassador to Egypt who will also represent it at the Arab League, following its reinstatement in the regional body last month, Syria’s state-run news agency SANA reported.

Houssam al-Din Ala was appointed as Syria’s ambassador to Cairo and the Arab League, following the 22-member council’s decision to give Syria its seat back in the league early May following a 12-year suspension.

The Syrian regime was suspended from the body in 2011 after its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations which later spiralled into a conflict which saw over half a million people killed, most of them as a result of regime bombardment of civilian areas.

Ala on Sunday presented his credentials to Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

السفير السوري حسام الدين آلا يقدم أوراق اعتماده لأمين عام جامعة الدول العربية مندوباً لسورية في الجامعة . pic.twitter.com/isEnLjQzbY

— وزارة الإعلام السورية (@moi_syria1) June 25, 2023

The new ambassador served as Syria's permanent envoy to the United Nations in Geneva for eight years. He was also the Syrian ambassador to the Vatican and Spain, and worked at the UN’s Syrian mission in New York.

Separately on Sunday, Syrian regime Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad received the credentials of Algeria’s ambassador to Damascus, Kamel Bouchama.

Bouchama previously served as Algeria’s envoy to Syria in 2001.

Algeria was one of few Arab countries not to cut ties with the Syrian regime or close its embassy in Damascus during the conflict.

A number of Arab countries - notably Saudi Arabia, which previously backed anti-Assad rebels - have in recent months re-established ties with the Assad regime.