President Erdoğan arrives in Addis Ababa as part of his Africa tour

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has arrived in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday as the first leg of a three-day African tour begins.

Erdoğan was met by Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Turkish Ambassador to Ethiopia Osman Rıza Yavuzalp upon his arrival at Addis Ababa International Airport.

During his official visit, Erdoğan will hold talks with Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome and Prime Minister Desalegn.

Erdoğan is accompanied on this trip by the first lady Emine Erdoğan, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and other ministers and Turkish officials.

According to a statement issued by the office of the Turkish president, Erdoğan will tour several African countries this year, leading a large group of ministers, senior officials and businessmen.

Turkey's presidency office also pointed out that Turkey has close historical and cultural ties with the countries of the Horn of Africa and that these countries are the strategic gateways to the Middle Eastern and world markets.