Syria’s new leadership has appointed a foreign minister, as reported by the official Syrian news agency (SANA) on Saturday, in an effort to strengthen international relations following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad two weeks ago. The General Command announced Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as the new foreign minister. A source within the administration indicated to Reuters that this decision reflects the desires of the Syrian populace to foster international connections that promote peace and stability.

Shibani, 37, is an alumnus of Damascus University and previously headed the political department of a rebel administration in Idlib, according to the General Command. Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s new de facto leader, has been proactive in engaging with foreign representatives since taking office, including meetings with the U.N. envoy for Syria and senior diplomats from the United States. Sharaa has expressed a commitment to diplomatic engagement, emphasizing his focus on reconstruction and economic development while steering clear of new conflicts.

The United States, along with other Western nations and many Syrians, welcomed the overthrow of Assad by rebel factions led by Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). However, it remains uncertain whether HTS will enforce strict Islamic governance or adopt a more flexible approach toward democracy. HTS was affiliated with al-Qaeda until Sharaa severed ties with the group in 2016. Syrian rebels took control of Damascus on December 8, leading to Assad’s flight after over 13 years of civil war and ending his family’s long-standing rule.

Forces led by Sharaa, commonly referred to as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, established a caretaker government that has governed a rebel-held area in Idlib for the past three months. In 2013, Washington labeled Sharaa a terrorist, alleging that al Qaeda in Iraq had assigned him the mission of toppling Assad’s regime and implementing Islamic sharia law in Syria. U.S. officials announced on Friday that the $10 million bounty on his head would be lifted.

The conflict has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, triggered one of the largest refugee crises in recent history, and left cities in ruins while severely damaging the economy due to international sanctions.