Following the conquest of Afrin District, civilian councils were formed to govern and rebuild the area. A first temporary council was organised by the Turkish-backed Syrian Kurds Independent Association in March 2018 to oversee aid, education and media in the area.[39] It was later replaced by an interim council that was established in Afrin city on 12 April.[40][41] The latter council, appointed by city elders, included eleven Kurds, eight Arabs and one Turkmen.