Rwanda and Sierra Leone Close Gulen Schools down

The Foreign Ministry of the West African nation of Sierra Leone has agreed to turn over the four FETÖ schools in the country to the Turkey Maarif Foundation (TMV), a body founded to support education and academic activity abroad. TMV Deputy Chairman Ambassador Dr. Hasan Yavuz told Anadolu Agency that Turkey's Accra Ambassador Nesrin Beyazıt and TMV Africa Board Expert İbrahim Baran had been in contact with Ghana and Sierra Leone on the issue of FETÖ schools in the two countries. As a result of the meetings with Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koromo and Foreign Minister Samura Kamara, the country's foreign ministry gave written indication that they would turn over the schools to the TMV. Yavuz reported that President Koroma said, "We will never shelter any element that commits terrorist crimes against the people and state of Turkey. We have canceled all permits for these institutions. It is our desire for TMV to reorganize our country from primary school to university." The TMV schools plan to open their doors in September, Yavuz added. During a previous meeting with top-level administrators and ministers in Ghana, Yavuz said the country had also showed legal documents relating to the FETÖ organization's activities. Sierra Leone is the latest in a string of African countries to agree to Turkey's demands over FETÖ schools. Previously the Republic of Congo, Somalia, Guineau, Niger and Sudan turned over FETÖ schools the TMV, while Burundi, Senegal, Mauritania, Chad, Gabon, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, and Madagascar have signed agreements about turning over of FETÖ schools their respective countries. Djibouti and Sao Tome have also signed agreements for the opening of Maarif Schools.

The only Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ)-linked school in Rwanda has shut down, Rwandan Minister of Education Papias Musafiri Malimba confirmed on Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency, Malimba gave the instructions to shut down the school in a written statement. He said that they also decided to take necessary precautions against the school's activities since they take Turkey's desires and the benefits of Rwanda into consideration. Hope Academy was founded in 2012, to provide education to children from high-income families. Last month, Rwandan ministers said that they were ready to provide all types of assistance to Turkey in its fight against FETÖ. "We will not allow any activities to be carried out against the Turkish state in this country," Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo told Anadolu Agency, adding that Rwanda has a clear stance regarding FETÖ and will not allow the group to do business. The foreign minister also said that Rwanda will not let FETÖ supporters, who disregard laws in Turkey, to take shelter in the country. "Rwanda is not a safe haven for people who inflict damage on Turkey, a country we consider a friend," Mushikiwabo said. Rwandan Minister of Commerce and Industry François Kanimba also said that the country is ready to "fully cooperate" with Turkey concerning business activities of FETÖ supporters. "We want to continue to cooperate with Turkey because our relations with Turkey are strategic and significant," the minister said.FETÖ faces heightened scrutiny after being accused of attempting to topple the democratically elected Turkish government in the July 15 coup attempt in which 246 people were killed and 2,200 injured. Rwanda is one of several countries to have taken action following the July 15 coup attempt regarding confiscating FETÖ schools and transferring ownership to the Turkish Maarif Foundation. Meanwhile, the West African nation Sierra Leone's foreign ministry has agreed to turn over the four FETÖ schools in the country to the Turkey Maarif Foundation (TMV), a body founded to support education and academic activity abroad. Sierra Leone is the latest in a string of African countries to agree to Turkey's demands over FETÖ schools. Previously the Republic of Congo, Somalia, Guineau, Niger and Sudan turned over FETÖ schools to the TMV, while Burundi, Senegal, Mauritania, Chad, Gabon, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, and Madagascar have signed agreements to turn over FETÖ-run schools. Additionally, Djibouti and Sao Tome have signed agreements for the opening of Maarif schools in the upcoming period.