The General Council of Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria (AANES) has announced that a new social contract will be adopted by the end of the year. Elections will then take place.

Since 2021, a committee made up of representatives of the Autonomous Administration, political parties, women's and youth organizations, and civil society organizations have been working on a new version of the current Social Contract. The difficult situation in the region because of the attacks by Turkey and the economic crisis, led to a postponing of the committee's consultations with the various population groups in Northern and Eastern Syria.

The aim of the Social Contract is to create the framework for a decentralized administrative system in Northern and Eastern Syria. This applies in particular to the separation of powers and the protection of human rights. The Social Contract is not an obstacle to the Autonomous Administration proposal for a political transition in Syria, said Farid Atti, co-chair of the General Council of the Autonomous Administration.

Atti said: "The Social Contract is not a constitution but rather a community contract. There is an article that provides for the possibility of changing it if there is a rapprochement with Damascus or an agreement with the central government on a new constitution in Syria."

Around four million people live in Northern and Eastern Syria, including many internally displaced refugees. The Autonomous Administration was founded in September 2018, after ISIS was pushed back. It includes seven regions that go beyond the predominantly Kurdish area of Rojava.

The currently valid Social Contract approved in 2016 can be found here.