ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday arrived in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, for an official visit.

Erdogan and his delegation were welcomed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos, and Turkish Ambassador to Ethiopia Berk Baran at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

Abiy expressed his “greatest pleasure to warmly welcome” Erdogan on to “the Land of Origins” in a post on US social media platform X.

He highlighted that the exchange of visits underscores the “strength of the deep partnership” between Türkiye and Ethiopia.

“From Ankara to Addis Ababa, I look forward to productive discussions that will further deepen cooperation and strengthen the enduring bonds between our two ancient nations,” the prime minister added.

Abiy described his “privilege” to share with Erdogan the “warm hospitality” Ethiopia offers, calling his country “a place where you will never feel like a stranger but a dear friend.”

He added that the two can drink the “very coffee that was first discovered in these lands” while addressing issues and developing a “tangible partnership rooted in the vast opportunities our partnership provides.”

*Writing by Berk Kutay Gokmen, with contributions by Mevlut Ozkan in Istanbul