Somali gov't denounces Turkey coup attempt, orders shut down of Gulen-linked organizations

Somali’s government has ordered the shut down of organizations linked to Fetullah Gulen and ordered Turkish citizens working Gulen-linked organizations to leave the Somalia within seven days.

The VOA reports the decision was taken at an extraordinary session of the Somali cabinet on Saturday.

The government’s decision, said to be in response to a request from Turkey also noted that services provided by such organizations in the areas of education and health care, will continue under a new administration.

Turkish authorities have blamed supporters of exiled religious cleric Fetullah Gulen of staging the coup even though Gulen has denied any involvement.

Scores of Somalis on Saturday also hit the streets of the country’s capital, Mogaishu to denounce Friday’s coup attempt in Turkey.

Armed with Somali and Turkish flags and portraits of the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well as the Somali leader, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the protesters march through the city and gathered near the Turkish embassy, where they declared their support for the embattled Turkish government.

“We are demonstrating to show our support to the people and the president of Turkey” Moahammed Aweis, one of the demonstrators told AFP.

Religious Affairs Minister, Abdulkadir Sheikh Ali Ibrahim told the protesters: “We are very happy to inform you that the attempted coup and treason has been overpowered by our Turkish brothers”.

The relations between Turkey and Somalia date back to the Ottoman Empire when Somalia had extensive relations with the Sultan Selim, during his rule in 1517.

Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Abdusalam Hadliye Omer who said his country has received close to one billion dollars worth of aid, investment and infrastructure from Turkey since it’s rebuilding in 2011, told the VOA: “Our position on what happened in Turkey is never to support the forceful change of a democratically elected government”.

“It’s very important for us to stand with Turkey, it’s a big country, and they are our friends,” he added.

Had the coup being successful, Somalia would have suffered as Turkey provides it with about $25 million a year in aid.

Life in Turkey is returning to normal after Friday’s event which saw at least 265 people killed with over 100 of them said to be supporters of the coup.

Turkish authorities have also rounded up nearly 3,000 soldiers suspected of being involved in the coup plot.