Erdogan arrives in Ivory Coast

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived late Sunday at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Airport, Abidjan, Ivory Coast .

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and his wife Dominique Ouattara, gave an official reception in honor of Erdogan and his wife, Emine Erdogan at the Sofitel Hotel in Abidjan, the country’s capital.

Turkey said the visit is a new sign of the country’s desire to be a major influence in the west African region.

Erdogen is expected to visit Ghana and then to the Economic powerhouse of the continent, Nigeria he will rap-up his visit in Guinea on Thursday.

The visit is aimed at deepening Turkey’s “strategic partnership” with Africa and developing relations with members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Turkish Airlines launched its first flights to Abidjan in 2013. The flights are being operated four times per week but Erdogan said they wanted to see direct flights every day.

The country has more than tripled the number of embassies it has in Africa since 2009 while flag carrier Turkish Airlines has dozens of destinations on the continent.