Syrian Central Bank Governor resigns after less than three months

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Mar 2025 20:52
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Sabreen, the first woman in 70 years to hold the position, previously deputy governor of the Central Bank of Syria, took over as caretaker after Mohammed Issam Hazime's departure late last year.

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Maysaa Sabreen gestures during an interview in the Central Bank. (Undated, Social media)

Maysaa Sabreen, Syria's Central Bank governor divulged to Reuters she resigned on Thursday, less than three months after being appointed on an interim basis.

A Syrian official and a finance industry source told Reuters that a successor will be selected once the new administration is established in the coming days.

Sabreen has been the central bank's first deputy governor since November 2020, with over 15 years of expertise in finance and banking.

She graduated from Damascus University with a bachelor's and master's degree in accounting, as well as certification as a public accountant. Before taking on her current position, she served on the board of the Damascus Securities Exchange and as the chairman of the government committee for banking.

Sabreen, the first woman to hold the position in 70 years, formerly the deputy governor of the Central Bank of Syria, assumed the position in a caretaker capacity following the departure of her predecessor, Mohammed Issam Hazime, late last year.

Her appointment was notable, as she is among the few senior state officials promoted after the swift offensive by Syria's new Islamic rulers led to President Bashar al-Assad's ousting on December 8.

Back in January, Sabreen had expressed her intention to enhance the institution's independence in monetary policy decisions, and told Reuters at the time the bank was working on preparing "draft amendments to the bank's law to enhance its independence, including allowing it more freedom to make decisions regarding monetary policy."

However, she acknowledged that these changes would require approval from Syria's new governing authority, with no clear timeline for implementation.

Sabreen also outlined plans to expand Islamic banking in Syria, aiming to attract citizens who have avoided traditional banking services.