Name: Syria removes Assad family from banknotes in currency relaunch | DW News
Uploaded: 2026-01-01T17:06:57.000Z
Duration: 4 min 52 s
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To Syria now, where a new currency is being rolled out today in a bid to restore public confidence in the severely devalued pound and to replace the only notes and coins from the former Assad regime.

The change is being seen as a symbolic break from the previous government as it removes Assad era imagery and symbols.

The exchange process begins on January 1st with one new pound equivalent to the value of 100 or gold pounds.

Well, for more we can now speak to journalist Berivan Resol, who is based in the Syrian city of Qamishli.

So Berivan, give us a sense of how this rollout has been going.

Are these new banknotes easily available?

So far the new banknotes are not available for our region.

I mean in northeast Syria, the rollout appears it's limited.

From the 1st of January until 3 days will be only limited for the offices licensed by central Bank.

And in the areas outside Damascus control, including Qamishli, implementation remains unclear and slow.

And the people here are still using the old currency in daily transfer transactions?

Well, yes, as you mentioned, your city Qamishli in northeastern Syria is of course controlled by the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Forces and not the interim government in Damascus.

But are the local authorities where you are in some way coordinating with Damascus for this new currency rollout moving forward?

Actually, in this stage, there is no clear announced coordination mechanism between Damascus and the local authorities, the SDF controlled air areas, regarding the curacy exchange.

The lack of this coordination creates uncertainty about how and when the process will be implemented here in our region.

And also reinforcing the reality of Syria's fragmented economic and administrative landscape.

So that there is no clear announcement about any coordination in this regard.

And also the agreement which was assigned at 10 March is still ongoing and nothing clear as well regarding that agreement.

So this has been described as a shift to rebuild Syria's economy.

But are people at least where you are, seeing this more as just a symbolic move by Damascus?

Yes, in my perspective, I think it's symbolic.

And also the people on the street, you can see that there is a high level of caution and spectacularity.

Most people don't view this as a step as a genuine economic change as much as they see it as a symbolic measure coming from Damascus, especially given the lack of transparency about the size of the printed money supply and any clear impact on the price and income for the economic.

Actually, for residents, the priority is livelihood, stability, not the design of the currency itself.

So do you feel that people are worried that this currency swap could in fact have the opposite effect.

So in other words, trigger more instability instead of somehow making things better.

Actually, yes, this is very real possibility.

If the currency exchanges is not implemented in a coordinated and transparent across the entire Syria Syrian geography, it could lead to market disruption and regional disparities and increase speculation.

Also in areas such as northeast Syria, any poorly planned step could further untrust and deepen economic fragmentation rather than unifying the economy.

That was journalist Barry Van Resol reporting from Qamishli in northeastern Syria.

We really appreciate all of your insights.