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.

© South Africa’s Belmond hotel (photo: @southafricauk)

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grace to grass

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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. Th...

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international standards

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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 She...

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leading role

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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 T...

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'brothers of light'

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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 ...

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prestigious guests

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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 Fleu...

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military ties

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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 sh...

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noble prestige

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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 Fé...

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