Tallest building in Africa to be constructed in Ethiopia

A land agreement signed between China-based Guangdong Chuanhui Group and the Addis Ababa City Administration, Ethiopia should see construction start later this year on Africa's tallest building.

Although no final height has been given the 58-storey tower will be a five star hotel in Addis Ababa and, once completed, will be the tallest building on the continent, according to the developer.

The current record holder is the 54-story (223 m) Carlton Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.

At a special signing ceremony, Addis Ababa's mayor, Kuma Demeksa, said the Chuan Hui International Hotel would "provide jobs and promote the local economic development" and would become "an African landmark".

The tower, one of five proposed luxury hotel projects in the capital, will cover 50000 m2 of land and is expected to cost ETB 2.4 billion (US$ 146.5 million).

Construction is expected to take 18 months.