Erdogan set for historical visit to drought-hit Somalia

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by a large delegation, will visit refugee camps in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu today in a move to draw world attention to the famine-hit African country. Alongside Erdogan’s wife and daughter, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and three other Cabinet members and their families will join the prime minister’s entourage as well as various NGOs and journalists. Chairwoman of Turkish Industry and Business Association, or TUSIAD, Umit Boyner, board chairwoman of Dogan Holding, Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, and businessmen from the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges, or TOBB, the Turkish International Development Agency, or TIKA, the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, or IHH, and the Turkish Red Crescent are included in the traveling delegation as well. Legendary Turkish superstar Ajda Pekkan also announced today that she was invited to join the prime minister’s one-day visit. Erdogan and his accompanying committee are scheduled to visit refugee camps, hand over aid brought from Turkey and attend the opening of the Turkish Embassy, which was closed in 1996. The prime minister plans to return to Turkey today at late night.