Cabinet reshuffle in northern Cyprus following fatal shipwreck

Prime Minister Unal Ustel has announced a cabinet reshuffle in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, involving key ministerial changes. Faiz Sucuoğlu has been appointed as the new Minister of Public Works and Transportation, while Hasan Taçoy takes over as the Minister of Economy and Energy. These appointments were officially confirmed following their publication in the official gazette.

The administrative changes follow the dismissal of Erhan Arikli from the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation. His removal was directed by Ustel in the wake of a tragic shipwreck that occurred off the coast of Kyrenia on August 30, which resulted in multiple fatalities. The Prime Minister stated that the dismissal was necessary to ensure that ongoing police and judicial investigations could proceed without suspicion of political interference.

Following his appointment, Faiz Sucuoğlu emphasized that his primary focus will be managing the recovery efforts related to the shipwreck. This includes coordinating the search for those still missing at the seabed and implementing urgent safety and logistical plans. The government aims to conduct a transparent investigation into the causes of the maritime disaster.