Bashar al-Assad became the Syrian leader in the year 2000. He succeeded his father, Hafez al-Assad, who had ruled Syria for 30 years. Upon assuming power, Bashar promised to introduce political and economic reforms that would open up Syria to the world and improve the lives of its people. However, over the years, his regime has been accused of corruption, human rights abuses and the violent suppression of political dissent. His leadership has been marked by a series of crises, including the ongoing civil war that has devastated the country and driven millions of Syrians from their homes.