Turkish embassy in Somalia to control Gulen-run schools

By Sultan Cogalan

ANKARA (AA) - Three schools and a hospital belonging to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization-linked Nile Academy in Somalia will now operate under control of Turkey's Mogadishu embassy, according to a diplomatic source.

The news came Sunday after the Somali government announced on July 16 its support for the elected government of Turkey and its elected President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following the July 15 coup attempt organized by FETO.

The Somali government has already begun to take some measures against FETO elements in their country, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to talk to the media, said.

The Somali government announced on July 16 it is suspending a school linked to the organization behind the failed coup bid, following a request by Ankara.

The government had said a new administrative board would be designated in cooperation with Turkey to resume the school's educational activities.

According to the source, the Somali government had given people working in Gulen-run institutions one week to leave the country, which expired Saturday.

A girls’ primary school, a girls’ high school, a high school, and a hospital will now carry out its activities under the coordination of the embassy in Mogadishu starting on Sunday, the source added.

After the Somali government's decision, 40 staff members have begun to leave the country along with their families.

The source said the hospital operated by the Nile Academy will be closed down and its property will pass to the Somalia-Turkey Training and Research Hospital.

According to decrees published in the official gazette Saturday, the Turkish government shut down more than 2,000 Gulen-linked institutions across Turkey following the deadly July 15 coup attempt.

A total of 35 health institutions and organizations as well as 1,043 private educational institutions, organizations, dormitories, and hostels were closed for having links with the FETO; 1,229 foundations and associations, 19 unions, federation and confederation and 15 foundation schools were also closed.

The deadly coup attempt occurred late on Friday, July 15, 2016 when rogue elements of the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country's democratically-elected government.

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly plot on July 15, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,100 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.

Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the “parallel state”.