Turkey's Erdo?an embarks on major trip to Africa

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an will visit four West African countries next week, in a new sign of Ankara's desire to be a major influence in the region.

Erdo?an was scheduled to begin his visit in Ivory Coast on Feb. 28, before continuing to Ghana and then to economic powerhouse Nigeria. He will wrap up the trip in Guinea on March 3, his office said in a statement released over the weekend.

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)," the statement said. It will be the first time a Turkish president has visited Ivory Coast and Guinea, it added.

Erdo?an, who in January last year visited Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia, is spearheading a drive to expand Turkey's presence in Africa.

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

Bilateral trade between Turkey and all of Africa was worth $23.4 billion in 2014, while bilateral trade with sub-Saharan countries has increased tenfold since 2000, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Turkey is also moving to increase its presence outside its traditional sphere of influence in the lands of the Ottoman Empire, as Erdo?an visited Chile, Ecuador and Peru this year.

During his latest tour of Africa, Erdo?an has been accompanied by Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu, Economy Minister Mustafa Elita?, Energy and Natural Sources Minister Berat Albayrak, Defense Minister? ?smet Y?lmaz and Environment and Urban Planning Minister Güldemet Sar?.

While announcing the tour at a press conference on Feb. 26,...