President Higgins is leaving Ireland today for a three-week state trip to Africa where he will visit Ethiopia, Malawi and South Africa.

The President will arrive in Addis Ababa tomorrow morning where he will begin a week long stay in Ethiopia.

On Monday, he will have a bi-lateral meeting with prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn, before attending a number of Irish Aid supported programmes run by aid agencies Trocaire, GOAL and CONCERN.

He will also meet with president Mulatu Teshome and visit refugees from neighbouring South Sudan.

The President is joined by his wife Sabina, and for a part of the trip by Overseas Development Minister Sean Sherlock.