Turkey’s Erdogan to embark on 4-country Africa tour

By Ilkar Güder

ANKARA (AA) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a five-day official visit to four African countries starting Feb. 26, the presidential office said on Saturday.

According to the statement, the Turkish president will hold talks with his counterparts in Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal and Mali in one-on-one and inter-delegation meetings.

The leaders are expected to discuss regional and global developments, bilateral relations and cooperation.

Business forums in Algeria and Senegal will also be held as part of the visits, the statement said.

Erdogan’s visit to Algeria will be the second Turkish presidential trip to the country, while he will pay the country’s first presidential visits to Mauritania and Mali, it added.

erdogan will first visit Algeria, then Mauritania on Feb. 28, followed by Senegal and Mali.

Last December, Erdogan paid a four-day visit to Sudan, Chad and Tunisia.

Since 2004, Erdogan has paid official visits to 24 African countries, spearheading the signings of numerous bilateral pacts.