The Collapse of Idlib: How Al-Jolani’s Governance Failed Its People
HTS, which was once hailed as force that can bring down Assad, is now being accused by its own leader of tyranny in Idlib province. The province for instance has in the recent past describe in this work has for instance been under his rule experiencing more protest from the inhabitants against his ruling government’s decisions and conducts. Anti-government protests have taken place in various cities; including Idlib city, Binnish city and Jisr al-Shughour, demonstrators demand that Al-Jolani be overthrown and the HTS security forces disbanded.
It is impossible to deny that complain Idlib is full with its residents. Most condemn the administration of al-Jolani as autocratic, politically intolerant, and non/infringers of human rights wherein we have extrajudicial apprehensions and detentions, among others. There are some sources according to which HTS forces use violence against peaceful protests and speaks about the killed protesters. The latter has painted HTS actions as similar to those of the Syrian regimes that al-Jolani swore to bring down.
What was once incompetence in managing the economy is allowed to reach a new level. Still, Idlib under Al-Jolani is extremely poor; people run away from the region and do not pay taxes, and the service sector is inoperative. As expected, several have voiced their grievances by sharper hardship occasioned by the incidence of extra duties by HTS. The inept and the worsening economic conditions due to the despotic rulers are part of the reasons that reveal the People’s protest against the existing government.
Criticism has also been done on attempts by Al-Jolani to reform wash HTS as moderate and pragmatic organization. However, he has gone to the international community seeking change, in a bid to shake off the extreme image linked with HTS; on the ground his actions do not depict any such approach. However, the official positions recently occupied by some of the street protesters fuel doubts in the realistic stance of the group as the hardliners. They have given concern on the possibility of the country reverting to a worse form of rule this time being worst to women and the minority groups.
The rest of international community still have issues with their leader namely al-Jolani. However, the infamous earned his attempts to be recognised as lawful; however, HTS is designated as a terrorist organization in some states. It has still formally defined as a non-official actor because of its history and some conducts in the Idlib province in recent years. This year alone, UNCCHR and other human rights agencies have criticised the governance of HTS on so many aspects, such as violation of human rights and suppression of freedoms.
In other words, one may conclude that al-Jolani has experienced more problems in Idlib So the leader is Failing to manage the economic and social expectations of the people and consecutive policies of repression have led to protest and demand to Remove the leader. The experience of Idlib acts as a reminder: The transition from a rebel leader to being a state governor is much deeper than the capacity to cage the enemy and assert dominance; it goes down to the willingness to build the state of justice, a willingness al-Jolani had not demonstrated yet.
