Rojava’s main opposition coalition elects new president

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC), an umbrella group of Kurdish opposition parties in northeast Syria (Rojava), on Wednesday elected Sulaiman Oso as their new leader. He promised to seek the recognition of Kurdish rights in the country. 

The ENKS leadership convened on Wednesday and elected Oso, who has been a senior official of the umbrella group for years, as its new leader after the six-month term of his predecessor, Nimat Dawood, ended. 

Oso told Rudaw English that the position of the president is ceremonial as the leadership board makes final decisions. 

Asked about his agenda for the ENKS, Oso said he wants to reorganise the group in a way that it could make full use of all resources at their disposal in the best way. 

Oso admitted that the media of the coalition is weak, promising to improve it.

The ENKS is a member of the Turkey-backed Syrian opposition and takes part in most of the international meetings on the future of Syria. 

Oso, 65, said he will focus on the future opportunities to seek for the recognition of Kurdish rights in Syria. 

The new leader of the ENKS was born in Hasaka province and has a Bachelor's Degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Aleppo. 

He has served various positions within the Kurdish movement in Rojava and has been a member of the ENKS delegation responsible for holding peace talks with the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD) -- intra-Kurdish power-sharing talks which have been stalled due to disagreements. 

Siud Mala resigned from the leadership of the ENKS in March last year, days after a video of him went viral on social media. He has remained in his position for about seven years. 

Oso said they have changed the bylaws of the party, allowing the leadership board to change the president twice a year. 

The ENKS has boycotted the June 11 controversial municipal elections in northeast Syria. The opposition coalition does not recognize the Kurdish administration and has accused it of targeting its offices and members. At least ten ENKS offices have come under attack in Rojava since March. Washington has condemned the assaults.