Syrian Kurdish parties have pressed ahead with plans to set up an autonomous federal system of government in the northern Syria, as US backed militants continue to regain territory from the Islamic State.
The autonomous federation is being formulated by political parties aligned to the Kurdish YPG militants who spearhead most of the attacks against Islamic State advances, and will comprise of three self-autonomous regions that were reclaimed from Islamic State militants.
Despite being classified by the Turkish government as a terrorist organisation, the YPG has been the West’s closest ally in the battle against Islamic State advances.
The newly planned ‘Democratic Federal System for Rojava’ will seek to finalise a constitution within the next three months and follow up with elections, a Kurdish official told Reuters.
The autonomous region of Rojava, which is a Kurdish term used for Northern Syria, will encapsulate three self-ruled regions which have been carved out by Kurdish YPG militants from the control of the Islamic State.
The co-chair of the assembly overseeing the project, Hadiya Yusef, told Reuters that meetings had been held in the US, Russia, UN and Europe to explain the plan and assure them that the aim was not to establish an independent state.
“We expect acceptance of this plan and we are working to win international, domestic and regional support,” said Ms Yousef.
Speaking to Reuters, Ms Yousef said that a constitution known as ‘the social contract’ was almost complete and any regions wishing to join the federal system would do so by agreeing to the contract, which places explicit guarantees on equal joint leadership for women of all administrative bodies.
Ms Yousef added that pending issues included the design of the new flag to represent the federal region.
The plans come as Kurdish militants launch another offensive to recapture the Islamic State held city of Manbij.
Discussions of joining the new ‘Democratic Federal System of Rojava’ have already commenced amidst the besieged politicians of Manbij. An official within the Manbij city council, told Reuters that they were expecting the Rojava proposals to be tabled to them and would allow the council to make a formal decision on the matter.