Somalia: Somaliland rules out closure of Gulen-linked school

Foreign Affairs Minister Sa’ad Ali Shire, Somaliland

Date posted: July 21, 2016

HARGIESA, Somalia

Somaliland administration in northwestern Somalia has refused to follow in the footsteps of the federal government that suspended a school with links to reclusive Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen following a failed coup attempt in Turkey, Garowe Online reports.

Foreign Affairs Minister Sa’ad Ali Shire said, Somaliland has not indicted Nile Academy before its courts, paving the way for the school to continue its operations.

Shire added that courts should first hear any case leveled against Nile Academy if Somaliland is to make such a move, in reference to the suspension of education activities of the Turkish school.

Heeding Turkey’s calls to close Gulen-affiliated schools in many Muslim countries after factions within the military failed to seize power on Friday night, Somalia was quick to toe Turkish government line.

UN-backed national government in Mogadishu had already given Nile Academy staff a week to leave the country at a request from Turkish authorities.

Turkey stepped up its involvement in the East African country at the height of one of the most ravaging droughts in recent decades.

Source: Garowe Online , July 21, 2016