Ali Keda

{{Short description|Assistant Secretary-General of the Presidency of Syria for Cabinet Affairs since 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = | native_name = {{nobold|علي كدة}} | native_name_lang = ar | image = | caption = | office = Assistant Secretary-General of the Presidency for Cabinet Affairs | president = Ahmed al-Sharaa | 1blankname = Secretary-General | 1namedata = Maher al-Sharaa (2025–2026) Abdul Rahman al-Aama | term_start = 26 May 2025 | term_end = | predecessor = Qais Khadr | office1 = Minister of Interior | president1 = Ahmed al-Sharaa{{efn|As ''de facto'' leader until 29 January 2025.}} | prime_minister1 = Mohammed al-Bashir | predecessor1 = Mohammad Abdul Rahman | sucessor1 = | term_start1 = 19 January 2025 | term_end1 = 29 March 2025 | office2 = Prime Minister of the Syrian Salvation Government | order2 = | predecessor2 = Fawaz Hilal | term_start2 = 18 November 2019 | president2 = Bassam al-Sahyouni Mustafa al-Mousa | successor2 = Mohammed al-Bashir | term_end2 = 13 January 2024 | birth_place = Harbanoush, Idlib, Syria | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1973}} | alma_mater = University of Aleppo | party = Independent | other_party = Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (until 2025) | allegiance = {{flag|Ba'athist Syria}} Army of Conquest Sham Legion | rank = Lieutenant colonel | service_years = ?–March 2011; September 2011–2012 | successor1 = Anas Khattab | leader2 = Ahmed al-Sharaa }}

'''Ali Abdulrahman Keda''' ({{langx|ar|علي عبد الرحمن كدة}}; born 1973) is a Syrian politician and engineer who is currently serving as the Assistant Secretary-General of the Presidency for Cabinet Affairs since 2025. He previously served as Minister of Interior in the Syrian caretaker government from 2024 to 2025, and as the fourth Prime Minister of the Syrian Salvation Government from 2019 to 2024.<ref name="SyriaTV2025">{{Cite web |title=تعيينات جديدة.. علي كدة وزيراً للداخلية ومحمد عبد الرحمن محافظاً لإدلب |url=https://www.syria.tv/%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%83%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8?amp |date=19 January 2025 |website=Syria TV |language=ar |access-date=19 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121235558/https://www.syria.tv/%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%83%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A8?amp |archive-date=21 January 2025 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Early life == Keda was born in Harbanoush, a village in Idlib Governorate, in 1973. He obtained degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Aleppo and military engineering from a state military academy.<ref>{{Cite web|title="علي كده" ضابط منشق ومسؤول أمني.. رئيسا جديدا لحكومة الإنقاذ|url=https://smartnews-agency.com/ar/reports/2019-11-19-263--%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%83%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B7-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B4%D9%82-%D9%88%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A4%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%A7-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B0|access-date=19 July 2020|website=SMART News Agency|language=ar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719164016/https://smartnews-agency.com/ar/reports/2019-11-19-263--%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%83%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B7-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B4%D9%82-%D9%88%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A4%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%A7-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B0|archive-date=2020-07-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> He then enlisted in the Syrian military, serving as a technician at al-Nayrab military airbase in Aleppo Governorate and being promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In March 2011, at the onset of the Syrian civil war, Keda defected from the military before rejoining six months later. He was arrested and again defected in 2012 after his release.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Ali Keda, a dissident officer and security official, is now new head of Salvation Government|url=https://smartnews-agency.com/en/reports/2019-11-19-ali-keda-a-dissident-officer-and-security-official-is-now-new|access-date=25 September 2020|website=SMART News Agency|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024064724/https://smartnews-agency.com/en/reports/2019-11-19-ali-keda-a-dissident-officer-and-security-official-is-now-new|archive-date=24 October 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Keda allegedly served as the deputy head of the Army of Conquest's security department. After its dissolution, he served as a security official with the Sham Legion before resigning. He then worked for the Free Police, but was dismissed after joining the Salvation Government.<ref name=":2" />

== Political career == Keda initially worked with local councils.<ref name=":2" /> Under the administration of Fawaz Hilal formed in November 2018, Keda served as Deputy Minister of the Interior for Administrative Affairs and Public Relations.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=18 November 2019|title=من هو علي كده رئيس "حكومة الإنقاذ" الجديد|url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/343297|access-date=19 July 2020|website=Enab Baladi|language=ar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719164014/https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/343297|archive-date=19 July 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the resignation of Hilal's cabinet at the completion of its one-year term,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=BBC Monitoring – Analysis: Who's behind the 'Salvation Government' running northern Syria?|url=https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c201b6nn |date=13 December 2019 |access-date=19 July 2020 |last=Saeed |first=Abdirahim |website=BBC Monitoring |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720034328/https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c201b6nn |archive-date=20 July 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Keda was given thirty days to present a new government to the General Shura Council.<ref name=":0" /> On 18 November 2019, Keda's government was approved by the General Shura Council and he was elected prime minister, winning 65% of the vote.<ref name=":1" /> Shortly after his appointment, he pledged to tackle the surge in the number of internally displaced persons in Idlib.<ref>{{Cite web|last=al-Khateb|first=Khaled|date=29 December 2019|title=Reshuffle of HTS-linked government fails to bring hope in Idlib|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/12/syria-idlib-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-government-protests.html|access-date=19 July 2020|website=Al-Monitor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230083540/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/12/syria-idlib-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-government-protests.html|archive-date=30 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 23 March 2020, Keda tasked Abdullah al-Shawi with chairing an emergency committee intended to coordinate the administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Syria. He was criticised for attending meetings without a face mask.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Jihadi-Backed Salvation Government and Covid-19 in Northwest Syria|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/the-jihadi-backed-salvation-government-and-covid-19-in-northwest-syria|date=15 May 2020|access-date=19 July 2020|website=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528154341/https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/the-jihadi-backed-salvation-government-and-covid-19-in-northwest-syria|archive-date=28 May 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

In an interview with ''Le Temps'', Keda appealed to the international community to deliver humanitarian assistance to Idlib in coordination with the Salvation Government. He also called on the European Union to "recognize the reality of the situation in Syria," stating that Bashar al-Assad's government was "terrorist."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Idlib, capitale syrienne du désespoir|url=https://www.letemps.ch/monde/idlib-capitale-syrienne-desespoir|date=3 September 2020|access-date=25 November 2020|last=Bouvier|first=Edith|language=fr|website=Le Temps|issn=1423-3967|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920044506/https://www.letemps.ch/monde/idlib-capitale-syrienne-desespoir|archive-date=20 September 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 1 December 2020, Keda was re-elected as prime minister by the General Shura Council, winning 81% of the vote. The vote was criticized by opposition activists who compared his appointment with that of Syrian prime minister Hussein Arnous.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ديموقراطية تحرير الشام.. إعادة انتخاب "علي كدة" رئيساً للحكومة ومنافسيه مجهولين |url=https://stepagency-sy.net/2020/12/01/%D8%A5%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%83%D8%AF%D8%A9/ |date=1 December 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020 |website={{Interlanguage link|Step News Agency|ar|وكالة ستيب الإخبارية}} |language=ar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201194717/https://stepagency-sy.net/2020/12/01/%D8%A5%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%83%D8%AF%D8%A9/ |archive-date=1 December 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Fall of the Assad regime and the Syrian transitional government === Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Ali Keda appeared together with Ahmed al-Sharaa in both meetings with both domestic and international delegations to the Syrian caretaker government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=أعمدة الشرع ورجالات الظل.. من يدير منظومة القيادة في دمشق؟ |url=https://www.syria.tv/%D8%A3%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B9-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B8%D9%84-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%B4%D9%82%D8%9F |date=30 December 2024 |access-date=3 May 2025 |last= |first= |website=Syria TV |language=ar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250503144157/https://www.syria.tv/%D8%A3%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B9-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B8%D9%84-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%B4%D9%82%D8%9F |archive-date=3 May 2025 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 19 January 2025, Keda was appointed as Minister of Interior in the Syrian caretaker government until the caretaker government was replaced by the Syrian Transitional Government on 29 March 2025.<ref name="SyriaTV2025"/> On 26 May 2025, Keda was appointed as Assistant Secretary-General to the Presidency for Cabinet Affairs, serving under Secretary-General to the Presidency Maher al-Sharaa.

== References == {{reflist}}

=== Notes === {{notelist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Keda, Ali}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Syrian colonels Category:Syrian defectors Category:University of Aleppo alumni Category:People from Idlib Governorate Category:Anti-Assad politicians of the Syrian civil war Category:Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham