Canada Announces Plan to Ease Sanctions on Syria Amid Transition
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Hashim Sheikh - . March 14, 2025
- . Update: March 14, 2025 2:32 pm
The Canadian government has announced it will ease sanctions on Syria to support humanitarian work. It is also to further encourage the transition towards a peaceful and inclusive future. This follows the fall of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad late in 2024 as the insurgent forces led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept through the country.
Alongside its new approach, the Canadian government has provided C$84 million for humanitarian assistance to Syria. Temporary sanction relief will be enforced for six months to support democratization, stabilization and delivery of humanitarian aid The amended sanctions will permit Canadian financial transactions with specific banks in Syria, including the Central Bank which had earlier been included under prohibitive lists.
Furthermore, Canada has appointed its ambassador to Lebanon, Stefanie McCollum, as the non-resident ambassador to Syria. A general permit is also granted for a period of the next six months which will allow Canadian citizens to conduct services with supporting activities, including the provision of humanitarian service.
New rulers of Syria, Islamist factions with al-Qaeda links in their backgrounds are facing increasing international pressure, the killing of civilians reported from villages belonging to the Alawite sect that support Assad. In line with these developments, the move by Canada to ease sanctions shows its support towards Syria’s transition and the well being of its people.
