All the schools in Senegal linked to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), the group behind last year's defeated coup in Turkey, have been closed, with three placed under a new Turkish state administration, thanks to good relations between the two countries, according to Ankara.

Speaking to reporters in Senegal's capital of Dakar, Transport, Maritime and Communications Minister Ahmet Arslan said economic and political ties between Turkey and Senegal are improving.

"The recent good relations between Turkey and Senegal dealt a big blow to FETÖ-linked schools in the West African country. All [FETÖ] schools in Senegal have been closed," he said.

Arslan said that out of 12 FETÖ schools with 2,500 students, Turkey's Maarif Foundation took over three of the shuttered schools, with nine others to follow once legal procedures are completed.

"Those three schools will start accepting students. However, as it is midterm now, so they expect fewer students. They will have more students in January, that is, in the second term," Arslan said.

The Maarif Foundation was established after the July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey to take over the administration of overseas schools linked to FETÖ. It also establishes schools and education centers abroad.

To date, it has taken over dozens of FETÖ-linked schools in Somalia, Guinea, Niger, Sudan, and the People's Republic of Congo.

FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader, Fetullah Gülen, orchestrated the abortive coup on July 15, 2016, which left 249 people dead and nearly 2,200 injured.