How did Crete become connected to North Africa under Roman rule?

Under Roman rule, Crete became connected to North Africa through the administrative reorganization of the Roman province of Cyrenaica.

After Rome annexed Cyrenaica in 96 BCE, the region experienced internal disorders, prompting the Roman government to establish it as a formal province in 74 BCE. Seven years later, in 67 BCE, the Romans completed their conquest of Crete and administratively linked the island to the North African province of Cyrenaica.123

This combined province was later reestablished as a senatorial province by the emperor Augustus. The two regions remained joined until the reign of Diocletian, who eventually separated them during his reorganization of the empire.14