Turkey, Uganda in talks to root out FETO terror group

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Turkey is continuing private discussions with Ugandan authorities to remove members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) – the group behind a defeated coup four years ago – from the East African nation, a top diplomat said Wednesday

“Our discussions to eradicate the FETO threat are at an advanced stage,” Turkey’s Ambassador to Uganda Kerem Alp said in a virtual interview with Anadolu Agency from the capital Kampala, but declined to give further details.

On Wednesday the Turkish Embassy in Uganda commemorated the fourth anniversary of the July 15, 2016 defeated coup attempt orchestrated by the FETO.

‘‘We commemorated the event with few people due to strict social distancing measures in place in Uganda,” Alp said, adding that most of the attendees were embassy staff or representatives of Turkish groups based in Uganda.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the failed coup in Turkey which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Turkey also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

Members of the terror outfit disguise themselves as businesspeople running schools, media outlets, or charity groups across the world.

FETO also has a presence in Uganda, where it runs schools – cash cows for the terror group – but in other countries Turkey has replaced the administration of such schools.

Turkey and Uganda established diplomatic ties 50 years ago and enjoy good bilateral relations.