Syrians took to the streets for a second day on Monday to demonstrate against a shock government decision to raise fuel prices by up to 40 per cent, extending the largest protests since the fall of Bashar Al Assad's regime in December 2024.
Angry crowds started fires and blockaded major roads – including the M5 motorway linking the capital Damascus to Aleppo – in protest against the government's decision to temporarily raise fuel prices by up to 40 per cent for diesel and 28 per cent for petrol. Some called for the resignation of Energy Minister Mohammed Al Bashir and shouted slogans such as "We will not accept humiliation or indignity". Others called for higher wages to match the rise in fuel prices.
Cities and towns across northern Syria – Hama, Khan Sheikhoun and Maarat Al Numan, among others – have played host to some of the angriest protests against the move that was announced without warning overnight on Saturday into Sunday.
The decision came as a surprise to Syrians, many of whom are already struggling with economic hardship. About 90 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line, UN figures show.
“We went to sleep and woke up to this,” said a resident of Idlib who witnessed the protests. “It was a shock, because this is not just about fuel, it will affect the cost of living.”
"The price rise is excessive and is affecting every aspect of social life. Everything has become expensive," said Walid Fares, a protester from Idlib. "The government is failing us."
Syria's government said the temporary increases were caused by a global rise in the cost of securing fuel due to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and other shipping routes, as well as higher transport and insurance costs caused by the US-Iran war.
Mr Al Bashir said the “increase was needed to bridge a temporary gap between the cost of securing petroleum products and their domestic selling prices”, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported.
Syria produces about 102,000 barrels of oil per day but requires about 325,000 bpd for domestic consumption, leaving it reliant on imports to make up the shortfall, Mr Al Bashir said.
Although Syria is an oil and gas producer, its reliance on imports has increased because of continuing rehabilitation work at the Baniyas oil refinery in Tartus governorate, according to a government source. That overhaul is intended to increase the refinery’s capacity from about 80,000 barrels per day to 130,000 barrels.
The government has worked to increase fuel production and to rehabilitate refineries to reduce dependence on imports, the source said.
“During the maintenance period, domestic refining capacity is temporarily reduced, requiring additional imports of finished petroleum products,” the source added. “The broader pressure comes from the higher international cost of refined products, shipping, insurance and supply.”
He added that fuel prices would remain subject to review based on changes in the international market and procurement costs.
The government's explanation has done little to ease public anger, as people are wary of price rises in every aspect of life related to transport and energy.
Fuel supplies are crucial for Syria as the country seeks to rebuild and recover economically after being devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war.
