Türkiye Appoints New Indian Ocean Ambassador with 25 Years Diplomacy Experience

ANKARA has officially appointed Halime Ebru Demircan as the new Turkish Ambassador to Madagascar, with concurrent jurisdiction over Mauritius and the Comoros.

The career diplomat officially assumed her duties in Antananarivo on 15 May 2026, succeeding Eshack Cubukcu.

The appointment signals a fresh chapter in Türkiye’s diplomatic engagement across the Indian Ocean region, where Ankara has been actively expanding its partnerships in economic, cultural, educational, and tourism sectors over recent years.

A Career in Multilateral Diplomacy

Ms Demircan transitions to the Indian Ocean role from her previous post as the Deputy Director General for the Council of Europe and Human Rights within the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Her diplomatic career spans a quarter of a century, beginning with her entry into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2001. She has since held a series of strategic international postings:

• 2003–2007: Permanent Mission of Türkiye to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
• 2009–2014: Turkish Representation to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
• 2016–2018: Deputy Minister-Counsellor (second-in-command) at the Turkish Embassy in Cairo.
• 2018–2021: Deputy Minister-Counsellor at the Turkish Embassy in Paris.

Within the ministry headquarters, Ms Demircan has also served across both the legal and research departments.

Academic Background

Born in Ankara in 1979, Ms Demircan brings a strong background in international law to the region.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Galatasaray University and a Master of Laws in International Law from Ankara University.

Source: Star Press