Syria, France sign deal on return of Rifaat al-Assad assets

Syrian and French officials signed a declaration of intent on Tuesday to facilitate the return of assets allegedly looted by Rifaat al-Assad, the late uncle of former Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, as French President Emmanuel Macron held talks with Syria's new leadership in Damascus. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot formalized the agreement at the Presidential Palace, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). The signing coincided with Macron's visit to the Syrian capital, where he met with President Ahmad al-Sharaa to discuss bilateral relations and the post-Assad transition.

Rifaat al-Assad's Exile and Conviction

Rifaat al-Assad, who served as military commander and vice president under his brother Hafez al-Assad, fled to France in 1984 after attempting to seize power while his brother was ill. A French court convicted him in 2021 on charges of corruption and laundering Syrian state funds through an extensive real estate portfolio, handing down a four-year prison sentence. The former official had faced accusations in multiple countries of crimes including killings and torture connected to the 1982 Hama crackdown.

Legal Framework and Bilateral Ties

The declaration establishes a framework for returning funds that French investigators traced to Rifaat al-Assad's properties and financial holdings across France. He died in the United Arab Emirates on January 12, 2026, at the age of 88 following a prolonged illness, though his estate remained subject to French legal proceedings. Macron's visit marks the first by a French head of state to Damascus since the fall of the Assad regime, signaling Paris's intent to normalize ties with the transitional government.