The overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria, led by the jihadist coalition Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), represents a seismic shift in the region’s political and strategic landscape. While the collapse of Assad’s authoritarian rule may appear as a victory for those advocating change, the events surrounding this development reveal glaring hypocrisies and contradictions in regional and international policies.

HTS and the Fall of Assad

HTS, once an offshoot of al-Qaeda, has evolved into a dominant force in Syria’s political theater. Its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has sought to rebrand the group as a viable governing authority, promising inclusivity and protection of minority rights. However, doubts persist regarding HTS’s ideological integrity and capacity for stable governance​

The group’s victory is not just a product of its battlefield strategies but also the intricate network of support and tacit alliances from regional and global actors. Allegations of HTS’s connections with Israel, in particular, have sparked intense scrutiny and debate, raising fundamental questions about the nature of power dynamics in the region.

The Role of Regional Powers

Turkey

Turkey’s involvement in Syria has been driven by strategic objectives, including countering Kurdish forces near its border and diminishing Assad’s influence. By backing various rebel factions, including HTS allies, Turkey ensured its interests were safeguarded. Although Ankara officially denies direct involvement in HTS’s recent offensive, its influence over the dynamics of the Syrian conflict cannot be overstated​

Qatar

Qatar’s financial and logistical support for rebel groups in Syria aligns with its broader geopolitical rivalry with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. By empowering Islamist factions, Doha has played a critical role in enabling the coordination necessary for large-scale offensives like the one that toppled Assad.

Iran

The fall of Assad is a severe blow to Iran, which had invested heavily in preserving his regime as a linchpin of its regional strategy. Tehran’s military and logistical support, including militias like Hezbollah, had turned Syria into a crucial corridor for Iranian influence extending to Lebanon. Assad’s ouster disrupts this strategy, leaving Iran vulnerable to shifting regional dynamics​

Israel

Israel’s alleged connections to HTS underscore the complexity of its approach to Syria. While officially neutral, Israel has prioritized weakening Iranian and Hezbollah influence in Syria. Reports of indirect links or covert understandings between Israel and HTS – aimed at destabilizing Assad – highlight the pragmatic but hypocritical policies that characterize the conflict. If true, such ties reveal a stark contradiction between Israel’s anti-terrorism rhetoric and its opportunistic alliances.

Hypocrisy in International Reactions

The global response to HTS’s rise and Assad’s fall exposes the selective application of moral outrage in international politics.

1. Selective Labeling of “Terrorism”: Western powers, which have long demonized groups like ISIS, appear hesitant to apply the same scrutiny to HTS. This hesitancy may stem from HTS’s utility in achieving the shared goal of toppling Assad.
2. Alleged Israeli Connections: If true, Israel’s alleged support for a jihadist group reveals a startling contradiction in its self-proclaimed role as a bulwark against extremism. Such connections epitomize the double standards that dominate global politics.
3. Muted Global Condemnation: The lack of significant outcry against HTS’s offensive, compared to the swift and severe reactions to similar uprisings in other regions, reflects the international community’s prioritization of expediency over principle.

Broader Implications and Uncertainties

The collapse of Assad’s regime creates a power vacuum fraught with risks and uncertainties. HTS’s governance promises will be tested against its history of extremism and the challenges of maintaining stability in a fractured nation. Allegations of HTS’s connections with Israel also raise concerns about the true motivations behind this seismic political shift.

The fall of Assad is not merely a Syrian story—it is a microcosm of the global hypocrisy that permeates modern geopolitics. It exposes the contradictions of states that denounce extremism yet exploit jihadist groups for strategic gains. Moreover, it calls into question the long-term consequences of such pragmatism, particularly for the people of Syria who have borne the brunt of the conflict.

A Call for Consistency and Justice

The Syrian conflict has been a theater of contradictions, where alliances of convenience and expedient policies have perpetuated suffering. The fall of Assad offers an opportunity for reflection and recalibration of international approaches to conflict resolution. For the global community, ensuring that the next chapter in Syria’s history prioritizes justice, equity, and stability is not just a moral imperative—it is a test of its commitment to consistent and principled action in a world rife with double standards.

As Africa’s economies grow, the need for effective trade facilitation and advanced infrastructure becomes urgent. Free export zones stand as pivotal tools to unlock Africa’s economic potential, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with its robust experience and unparalleled infrastructure in free zone development, is well-suited to lead this transformation. Beyond a shared interest in fostering Islamic finance and building sustainable trade networks, Africa and the UAE share a vision of economic integration. By championing free export zones, the UAE can lay the foundation for a new era of trade and economic growth across the African continent, modeled on its own success and that of rapidly industrializing regions like Southeast Asia.

Africa’s Trade Potential and the Role of Free Export Zones

Africa’s economy is projected to reach a combined GDP of over $2.5 trillion by 2030, driven by an expanding workforce, increasing urbanization, and a large consumer base estimated to exceed 1.7 billion people. Key drivers include a youthful population—over 60% under 25 years old—a growing urban middle class, and vast untapped resources.

Yet, the continent faces structural bottlenecks that inhibit growth, including high tariffs, complex trade regulations, and poor infrastructure. For instance, the average intra-African tariff is around 6.9%, which is notably higher than other regions. In comparison, tariffs within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are as low as 0.2% due to a strategic focus on regional integration and trade facilitation.

Free export zones, which eliminate tariffs, streamline regulatory processes, and create business-friendly environments, offer a proven model to overcome these obstacles. With success stories like Malaysia’s Port Klang Free Zone, which now generates billions in trade annually and employs thousands, free export zones can drive Africa’s economic growth and position it as a competitive player on the global stage.

The UAE’s Track Record and Its Potential in Africa

The UAE’s expertise in free zone development is widely recognized, with Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) serving as a prime example. JAFZA, one of the world’s largest and most successful free zones, is home to over 8,700 companies from more than 100 countries, with trade flows worth over $104 billion annually. This success has spurred growth across the UAE economy, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and transforming Dubai into a global logistics and trade hub.

Given Africa’s own growth trajectory, there is vast potential for the UAE to replicate its model across key African trade corridors. In recent years, African countries have taken steps toward regional integration, exemplified by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to create the world’s largest free trade zone with a potential to boost intra-African trade by 52.3% by 2022. However, these ambitions need concrete trade infrastructures to become reality, and free export zones, led by experienced UAE investors and developers, are a strategic solution.

Learning from Southeast Asia’s Free Trade Success

Southeast Asia’s rapid transformation into a global manufacturing and trade powerhouse was driven largely by free export zones and open trade policies. Countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia introduced special economic zones (SEZs) in the 1980s and 1990s, which became magnets for foreign direct investment (FDI) and catalyzed economic development. Malaysia’s Port Klang Free Zone, for example, now contributes to more than $5 billion in trade activity annually, while Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor has transformed the country into a global automotive and electronics hub.

These examples illustrate how strategically located and efficiently managed free export zones can drive economic diversification, reduce unemployment, and boost GDP. In Africa, similar results could be achieved with targeted free export zones focusing on areas like agro-processing, light manufacturing, and logistics. Africa could leverage its own strengths – such as its abundant natural resources and young workforce – to become a manufacturing base that caters to both domestic and global markets. The UAE, given its success in building such zones and its proximity to Africa, is ideally positioned to help make this vision a reality.

Islamic Finance and the Halal Economy: A Unique Opportunity

The UAE’s involvement in African free export zones also presents an opportunity to promote Islamic finance and the Halal economy, which align with the cultural values and economic needs of many African nations. Islamic finance has seen substantial growth in recent years, with the industry expected to reach $3.69 trillion by 2024. Africa, with a population that is 45% Muslim, is poised to become a significant market for Sharia-compliant financial products. Establishing free zones that support Halal production and Islamic financing mechanisms would attract Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian investors, further integrating Africa into global supply chains.

A UAE-led initiative in establishing Halal-certified free export zones could, for instance, drive substantial growth in the global Halal food and beverage market, estimated to reach $3.2 trillion by 2024. These zones could specialize in the production and export of Halal-certified products for markets in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and beyond, positioning Africa as a leading supplier in the global Halal economy.

Strengthening UAE-African Relations through Economic Partnerships

UAE-African relations are steadily strengthening, with the UAE investing billions in African infrastructure, telecommunications, and agriculture over the last decade. As global competition for African partnerships intensifies, the UAE’s role as a leader in free export zone development would distinguish it as a key partner in Africa’s economic transformation. With UAE-supported free zones, African nations could benefit from the UAE’s world-class logistics expertise, regulatory frameworks, and trade facilitation systems, which would attract both regional and international investors.

These partnerships would have profound economic benefits. According to the World Bank, Africa needs an estimated $93 billion annually for infrastructure development, and partnerships with experienced players like the UAE could help close this financing gap. Free export zones funded through joint UAE-African initiatives could serve as models of success, spurring job creation, GDP growth, and export revenue. For example, a strategic free zone in West Africa alone could generate tens of thousands of jobs and over $10 billion in annual trade, further strengthening the UAE-Africa economic alliance.

Conclusion: A Vision for Shared Growth

By leading the development of free export zones in Africa, the UAE can play a transformative role in Africa’s trade future, drawing from its own experience and success. This partnership would not only benefit Africa by accelerating its economic development but would also deepen the UAE’s trade ties with a continent on the cusp of becoming a major player in global markets. As the UAE and Africa join hands in developing free export zones, they are setting a blueprint for sustainable, inclusive growth that can inspire other regions.

In this vision, the UAE is not only an investor but a visionary partner in building an integrated and prosperous Africa. Through free export zones, Africa can become a critical link in global supply chains, advancing trade, investment, and economic development in ways that will resonate for generations. The UAE, with its deep expertise, resources, and cultural alignment, should seize this opportunity to lead in building Africa’s future as a continent of free trade, prosperity, and shared growth.

The conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left the world with a bittersweet taste. The agreement, which pledges $1.3 trillion in climate finance by 2035, is overshadowed by the paltry $300 billion in direct commitments for grants and low-interest loans. This meager offering, masked by promises of mobilized funds from unspecified “public and private” sources, is a stark reminder of the global North’s failure to rise to the moral and practical demands of the climate crisis.

For the developing world, the message is clear: once again, they are expected to shoulder disproportionate burdens, receiving less than 1% of what they are rightfully owed based on historic emissions. The injustice is glaring. An LSE study estimated that developing nations are entitled to $192 trillion by 2050 as reparations for the carbon budget consumed by the industrialized world. Yet, even raising this conversation in diplomatic arenas remains taboo.

Climate Finance: Beyond Charity

Climate finance is not charity—it is survival. The funds pledged are not only about protecting lives and livelihoods in the global South but also about ensuring a green transition that benefits the entire planet. If countries in the developing world fail to transition to renewable energy due to a lack of resources, the resulting emissions will exacerbate global warming, with devastating impacts everywhere.

The UN Secretary-General aptly described climate finance as “an investment against the devastation that unchecked climate chaos will inflict on us all.” However, with developed nations citing domestic political and economic constraints as excuses for inadequate action, the Alice-in-Wonderland reality persists: a consensus on the need for action coexists with a political paralysis that undermines it.

The Roadmap to Justice

The $300 billion annual commitment may suffice to attract private investment and new forms of financing like carbon trading and fossil fuel levies, but only if followed by genuine implementation and accountability. Past summits have shown us the fragility of such commitments, with promises often evaporating in the face of competing priorities.

Yet, there is hope in the roadmap to $1.3 trillion by 2035 — a benchmark that, if pursued rigorously, could hold governments accountable. Additionally, Brazil’s leadership at the next COP in Belém offers a glimmer of optimism. A region deeply affected by the climate crisis, Latin America has the moral and strategic impetus to push for more ambitious action.

The Islamic Perspective: A Moral Imperative

For the Islamic world, climate justice is not just a diplomatic issue; it is a moral imperative grounded in the principles of fairness, stewardship (khilafah), and collective responsibility. The failure to support vulnerable nations contradicts the Quranic call to “not cause corruption on the earth” (2:11). Developed nations must remember their duty to preserve the planet as a trust from Allah and their responsibility to address the inequalities their historical emissions have caused.

Call to Action

Baku’s summit reflects the inadequacy of current global climate governance mechanisms. As the world turns its eyes to Brazil, the Islamic world must take a leadership role, advocating for an equitable climate finance structure that prioritizes grants over loans, alleviates crippling debt, and delivers real reparations. This is not about charity or goodwill; it is about survival, equity, and the realization of a just global order.

The road to 1.5°C is narrowing, and the time for bold, collective action is now. The Islamic world, with its shared values and vision of justice, must rise as a beacon of hope, urging the global community to move from rhetoric to meaningful action. We owe it to ourselves, to future generations, and to the principles that bind humanity together.