Syria has appointed a new central bank governor in the latest shake-up of its economic leadership following a partial government overhaul last week.
According to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency, President Ahmed al-Sharaa has named Abdul Hamid Raslan, a veteran banker and former head of the Syrian Development Fund, as the new governor of the country’s central bank.
Raslan replaces Abdul Qadir al-Hasriya, who has been reassigned as Syria’s ambassador to Canada, according to state television citing a foreign ministry official.
Hasriya had held the post since April 2025, when he succeeded Maysa Sabreen, who served as interim governor following the Islamist-led offensive that ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
During his tenure, Hasriya oversaw a major currency adjustment that removed two zeros from Syrian banknotes—a symbolic reform aimed at simplifying transactions and restoring confidence in the Syrian pound, though it did not change its actual value. The redesign also eliminated images of Assad and his family from the currency.
The latest appointment comes amid broader administrative changes, after last week’s partial cabinet reshuffle in which Sharaa replaced two ministers, several provincial governors, and the presidency’s secretary-general position, previously held by his brother Maher.
Officials have not provided a clear explanation for the ongoing reshuffle.
AFP
