Roman Kindi

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Dr. Roman Ali al-Hajji Kindi an-Nabulsi (Arabic: الدكتور رومن عالي الحجي كندي النابلسي; b. 11 May 1960 in Nablus) is a Palestinian politician, psychiatrist and former intelligence director and military pilot, who has served since 9 November 2024 as President of the Arab Union. In his capacity as National Secretary of the ruling Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party. Kindi was appointed to the position by the National Congress following the resignation of Bashar al-Assad the day before. Kindi previously served from 2014 as Minister of Defence and as Secretary of the Military Presidium of the Ba'ath Party.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Childhood[edit | edit source]

Roman Ali Kindi an-Nabulsi was born in Nablus, Palestinian Arab Republic on 11 May 1960, to Ismaili Shia parents Ali Abdullah Kindi and Rania Khadria Kindi, the second child and only boy of four children. He was educated at Yasmina Boys' Primary from ages 5 to 12 and Yasmina Boys' Secondary from ages 13 to 18. Being raised in a relatively secular family, and likely due to his secondary school's close affiliation with the Palestinian Regional Branch of the Ba'ath Party, Kindi joined the Young Ba'athists of Palestine League at age 15, and officially joining the Palestinian Regional Branch upon turning 18.

College years[edit | edit source]

Kindi spent a gap year working on various political causes with the branch, but at age 19 enrolled in Nablus University to study psychology, achieving his bachelor's degree in psychology with a thesis focus on the implications of psychology on politics in 1983, at age 23. Following his graduation from Nablus University with his bachelor's degree, Kindi planned relocating to Nasseria, capital of the Arab Union, to attend the Military University of Nasseria, intending to continue pursuing his study of psychology and its political implications. During his summer break after graduating and before moving to the capital, Kindi completed the Hajj to Mecca, earning him the epithet al-Hajji. After relocating to Nasseria, Kindi became closer involved with the National Command of the Ba'ath Party, attending their weekly political debates at the university. In 1985, at age 25, Kindi graduated with a master's degree in psychology, again focusing his thesis on political psychology. Deciding to continue his studies, Kindi graduated in 1987 at age 27 with a doctorate in psychiatry, becoming a certified psychiatrist.

Military career[edit | edit source]

Following university, it was at this point he decided to enroll in the officers' program of the Arab Air Force, entering as a lieutenant and being trained as a pilot of fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. Showing a skill for military tactic and leadership, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a lieutenant colonel by 1989 and a colonel by 1990. By early 1994, Kindi had progressed through the ranks to general, the second highest rank in the military; that summer, he was offered by President Hafez al-Assad to be appointed Chief-of-Staff of the Arab Air Force: he took the offer enthusiastically, and was automatically promoted to the final rank of field marshal, being assigned to this new post in June 1994.

Kindi continued as Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force for nearly ten years, until March 2004, when he was asked by President Bashar al-Assad to take on a yet more responsible role as Chief-of-Staff of the Union Defence Forces as a whole (ie. the army, navy and air force simultaneously). Accepting this offer the same month, Kindi would remain in this position until May 2010, when he was offered the role of Director of the Joint Security Committee, which he held until May 2014, when he was persuaded by Assad to enter politics while retaining his military status by becoming the new Minister of Defence, a position Kindi has retained to this day.