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Construction workers work on the roof of a new building at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa September 11, 2015. Addis Ababa's “Mercato” – Italian for “market” – is reputedly the biggest open-air market in Africa, lying in the west of the capital. Supermarkets have sprouted across the city as the metropolis has expanded with Ethiopia's booming economy, but Mercato remains a popular destination for shoppers seeking clothing, electronics and a huge range of other items. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

Construction workers work on the roof of a new building at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa September 11, 2015. Addis Ababa's “Mercato” – Italian for “market” – is reputedly the biggest open-air market in Africa, lying in the west of the capital. Supermarkets have sprouted across the city as the metropolis has expanded with Ethiopia's booming economy, but Mercato remains a popular destination for shoppers seeking clothing, electronics and a huge range of other items. It has been around for as long as the city, which was founded at the end of the 19th century, but it took its current form, and its name, from the Italians who invaded Ethiopia in 1935. The Italian occupation ended in 1941. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



Trucks and commericial vehicles are unloaded at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa September 11, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

Trucks and commericial vehicles are unloaded at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa September 11, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A construction labourer works on a building near an electrical shop at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa October 9, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A construction labourer works on a building near an electrical shop at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa October 9, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A general view of the Mercato market in Addis Ababa September 11, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A general view of the Mercato market in Addis Ababa September 11, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



Labourers carry a chip wood panel at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa September 11, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

Labourers carry a chip wood panel at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa September 11, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A new shopping centre under construction is seen behind old buildings and market stalls at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa November 18, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A new shopping centre under construction is seen behind old buildings and market stalls at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa November 18, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A used clothes shop owner sets up his stall in the early morning at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa December 16, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A used clothes shop owner sets up his stall in the early morning at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa December 16, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



Boys play soccer in the streets of the Mercato market in Addis Ababa June 14, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

Boys play soccer in the streets of the Mercato market in Addis Ababa June 14, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



Vendors sell used clothes and shoes at night at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa June 14, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

Vendors sell used clothes and shoes at night at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa June 14, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A woman waits for customers next to her belongings at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa October 9, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A woman waits for customers next to her belongings at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa October 9, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A shop owner arranges his goods in the early morning at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa October 8, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A shop owner arranges his goods in the early morning at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa October 8, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A vendor's bags hang on a wall in the early hours of the morning at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa October 8, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A vendor's bags hang on a wall in the early hours of the morning at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa October 8, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A woman walks past a display of clothing for sale at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa November 14, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A woman walks past a display of clothing for sale at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa November 14, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A stall owner shields herself from the sun with an umbrella as she talks to a customer at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa November 28, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A stall owner shields herself from the sun with an umbrella as she talks to a customer at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa November 28, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A woman counts Ethiopian birr notes, after selling a cabbage at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa November 14, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A woman counts Ethiopian birr notes, after selling a cabbage at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa November 14, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



Labourers load a three-wheeled vehicle onto the back of a van at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa October 9, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

Labourers load a three-wheeled vehicle onto the back of a van at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa October 9, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



People buy vegetables at a busy market in Mercato, Addis Ababa December 15, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

People buy vegetables at a busy market in Mercato, Addis Ababa December 15, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



Vendors sell goods at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa June 13, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

Vendors sell goods at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa June 13, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A woman looks out for customers as she sells maize at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa November 28, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A woman looks out for customers as she sells maize at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa November 28, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A shop owner poses for a photograph at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa December 16, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A shop owner poses for a photograph at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa December 16, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



Donkeys stand near used clothes shops at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa December 16, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

Donkeys stand near used clothes shops at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa December 16, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



College graduate Abdurazak Redwan, 29, poses for a picture in his shop that he has owned for six years, at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa August 13, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

College graduate Abdurazak Redwan, 29, poses for a picture in his shop that he has owned for six years, at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa August 13, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



Guard dogs sleep outside a shop at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa June 14, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

Guard dogs sleep outside a shop at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa June 14, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)



A woman sells spices at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa September 14, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

A woman sells spices at the Mercato market in Addis Ababa September 14, 2015. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)
20 Dec 2015 08:06:00