Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives in Banjul this afternoon for a one day historic state visit.

The Turkish president and his delegation were welcomed with a guard of honour by President Adama Barrow at the Banjul International Airport.

Banjul is the second leg of President Erdogan three nation African tour that includes Algeria and Senegal.

“We are determined to enhance ties with African countries,” Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul before his departure.

The Turkish president is expected to sign bilateral agreements with his Gambian counterpart President Barrow.

“His visit signifies the strong bilateral ties between the two countries and several bilateral agreements and cooperations are expected to be signed,” a Gambia government statement said.

Erdogan’s visit to Gambia is historic as it is the first time ever for a Turkish president to visit Banjul.

Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdogan is accompanying Erdogan as well as key aides — including Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Technology and Industry Minister Mustafa Varank, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez, head of the Turkish Intelligence Organization Hakan Fidan, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun and presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin.

Turkey-Africa relations have gained substantial momentum since the declaration of Turkey as a strategic partner of the continent by the African Union in January 2008 and “the trade volume between Turkey and African countries has reached $26 billion”.