Transport Minister Exempts Deputy Director of Iraq Ports and Appoints Replacement

Transport Minister Wahab Salman al-Hasani relieved Abdul Sattar Khalaf Fanjan, Deputy Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq for Technical Affairs, of his position, and assigned Haitham Kazem Hadi to his duties effective July 14, 2026.

The ministerial decision transferred Fanjan to Abu Flos Port without stating the reasons for the dismissal or the criteria for selecting the replacement, raising questions about transparency in port management, which faces recurring operational and financial challenges.

The General Company for Ports of Iraq is responsible for managing the country's main maritime gateways, and faces criticism due to project delays and contract violations, without clear accountability for previous officials.

According to the official document, Haitham Kazem Hadi, a senior first-class marine engineer, will assume the new position immediately, while the ministry has not announced any evaluation procedures for the dismissed official's performance or a plan to develop port performance.

The decision comes at a time when Iraqi ports suffer from a lack of infrastructure and weak coordination with security and customs authorities, affecting trade movement and increasing import costs for citizens.