President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has dismissed Serkan Kayalar as President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), appointing Abdullah Eren as his successor, according to a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette on Friday.

Eren, previously the head of the Directorate of Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), will now lead TİKA, Türkiye’s primary agency for international development and cooperation. The decree, signed by Erdoğan, did not specify a reason for Kayalar’s removal.

Kayalar, who served as TİKA’s president since 2019, spearheaded numerous development and cultural diplomacy projects across the Balkans, Africa, and Central Asia. His tenure saw TİKA expand its global presence, delivering aid in areas such as health, education, disaster relief, and capacity building.

Abdullah Eren, known for his work with the Turkish diaspora and international scholarship programs at YTB, is expected to steer TİKA toward furthering Türkiye’s global humanitarian and development goals.

The appointment comes amid a broader reshuffle of key institutions tied to Türkiye’s foreign policy and soft power strategy.

The changes, effective immediately, signal a new chapter for TİKA as it continues to strengthen Türkiye’s role in international cooperation. (ILKHA)