Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday opened a newly-built Turkish embassy in the Somali capital Mogadishu amid tight security.

Accompanied by his Somali counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Erdogan cut the ribbon at the facility.

President Erdogan said Turkey was "dedicated to seeing Somalia rise up and be a stable country" as the Horn of Africa country is recovering from more than two decades of conflict.

On his part, President Mohamud said: "We welcome Turkey's efforts in rebuilding our country."

Security was tightened in the city, especially on the roads leading to the new embassy and the capital airport.

Only three days ago, Al-Shabaab gunmen attacked a hotel in the city, killing more than 15 people and wounding over 30 others.

Islamist group Al-Shabaab has been driven to rural areas in southern Somalia, but still stages periodic attacks in the country, with Mogadishu being its main target.

In Somalia, Erdogan concluded a three-country Africa tour, after visiting Uganda and Kenya. Endit

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