When Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa addresses the U.N. General Assembly this week , it will be another milestone on his improbable journey. For years, he was known only as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the shadowy leader of Syria’s al-Qaeda branch and a man with a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head . Flash forward to Sunday, when he arrived in New York City by jet and disembarked wearing a smart suit. He has since been fêted by the Syrian diaspora and even former CIA director Gen. David Petraeus.

But while Sharaa’s U.N. debut will further solidify recognition of his government, the situation back in Syria is shaky. The international community now welcoming Sharaa should push him to adopt genuinely inclusive policies, not encourage him to impose control on a still divided country.

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