In depth

God Almighty: When religion influences politics

They have a greater or lesser taste for the limelight and honours, but from Bamako to Kinshasa, via Conakry, Abidjan, Abuja, and Ouaga, Catholic or Muslim clerics have an undeniable influence on the public sphere. And this is not always to the delight of the powers that be. We delve into those influential persons in this series.

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debate

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God Almighty: When religion influences politics

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"very influential"

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Mali: the Sheriff of Nioro, maker of presidents

A major religious figure in Sufi Islam, Bouyé Haïdara has become one of the richest businessmen in the country and a key figure for ambitious politicians.

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against excess

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DRC: Fridolin Ambongo, leading adversary

At 62, the archbishop of Kinshasa is one of the main critical voices against the excesses of power. While it is said that he could one day become Pope, he is preparing to play the role of watchdog in the 2023 presidential election.

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low profile

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Côte d’Ivoire: Ousmane Diakité, the Imam of the Middle Way

Discreet and unknown to the general public, Sheikh Aïma Ousmane Diakité has years of mediation experience and influence behind him. For a year now, he has been at the head of Cosim in Côte d'Ivoire with the heavy task of countering the spread of the ideology of terrorist groups.

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modernising islam

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Nigeria: Lamido Sanusi, the activist king who spoke truth to power

Traditional institutions and figures are known for their conservatism and are expected to ensure that cultural practices and customs remain largely unchanged. However, for Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, a top banker who would later become the 14th Fulani Emir of Kano State, Nigeria, his own mission was the opposite.

The In Depth Collection

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