In depth

Secret Places of Power

If presidential palaces are symbols of the power of heads of state, other buildings play an essential role in the political life of a country. Secret clubs, private residences, mythical hotels... We journey to the heart of these 'other' places of power.

Article 1/7

grace to grass

Article 1/7

Places of Power: South Africa’s Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel

There is some irony in Winne Madikizela-Mandela choosing a hotel that is the namesake of her former husband to celebrate her 80th birthday in 2016. Their separation 24 years prior wasn't a friendly one, but by then, he had been dead for three years and this had been shifted to the background.

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international standards

Article 2/7

Places of Power: Ethiopia’s historic Hilton & luxurious Sheraton

At the headquarters of the African Union, there's a host of secret deals and meetings that take place behind the famed walls of the Hilton and the Sheraton: the two iconic hotels in the capital.

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leading role

Article 3/7

Places of Power: Senegal, where all roads lead to Touba

If presidential palaces are symbols of the power of heads of state, other places and buildings still play a crucial role. Today we look at Senegal's Touba, the cradle of Mouridism, which has long had a complex relationship with the political sphere.

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'brothers of light'

Article 4/7

Places of Power: Côte d’Ivoire’s mysterious temple of the Freemasons

If presidential palaces are symbols of the power of heads of state, other places and buildings still play a crucial role... Like this discreet villa in Abidjan, which houses the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Côte d'Ivoire.

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prestigious guests

Article 5/7

Places of Power: DRC’s Fleuve Congo hotel, ‘the cream of the crop’

If presidential palaces are symbols of the power of heads of state, other places and buildings still play a crucial role. This is the case of the Fleuve Congo, whose 22 floors and old-fashioned charm dominate the heart of Kinshasa.

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military ties

Article 6/7

Places of Power: Egypt’s Al-Masa Hotel, a witness to a defeated revolution

From being a destination for weddings to a place where the country’s foreign and local policies are engineered, Al-Masa Hotel is seen as a military shrine embedded in the civilian life of contemporary Egypt.

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noble prestige

Article 7/7

Places of Power: Cameroon’s Mount Fébé, the other hill of power

If presidential palaces are symbols of the power of heads of state, other places and buildings still play a crucial role. Today we look at the Mont Fébé Hotel in Yaoundé, whose star has certainly faded since the appearance of the Hilton, but where the elite continue to flock.

The In Depth Collection

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