Grand Orient de France

Madagascar
Freemasonry regains its footing after the coup

Shaken by the fall of former president Andry Rajoelina in October 2025, Malagasy freemasonry is gradually finding its feet again.

Congo
Congo Grand Lodge holds AGM

On 18 October the freemasons of the Congo Grand Lodge will hold their AGM in Brazzaville for the first time in two years, at the invitation of Grand Master Denis Sassou-Nguesso.

Palace Intrigues
Emmanuel Macron, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Laurent Esso

Intrigues big and small... Every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

AfricaEmmanuel Macron takes a tour of the continent

GabonBrice Clotaire Oligui Nguema snuggles up to the Freemasons

CameroonMinister of Justice Esso reluctantly refrains from attending former colleague's funeral

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Faure Gnassingbé

Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

Ivory CoastAlassane Ouattara on personal visit to France

CongoUNESCO: Denis Sassou-Ngesso's candidate makes a stop at the Grand Orient de France

West AfricaECOWAS 50th anniversary summit on hold

Palace Intrigues
Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Lalla Hasnaa

Intrigues big and small – every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

CongoGabon's Freemasons let Sassou play host

GabonOligui Nguema's half-brother offers Fally Ipupa concert for festive season

MoroccoMohammed VI's sister, Lalla Hasnaa, offended by French absences at diplomatic gala

Africa
Patrice Talon, Nicolas Sarkozy, Félix Tshisekedi, Diego Aponte, 'Teodorin' Obiang

Intrigues big and small: every Tuesday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

Congo
Oyo to host next Freemason gathering

After Abidjan in 2022, the next get-together of the Freemason organisation REHFRAM is to take place in the central Congolese city of Oyo in February. Police general Philipppe Obara worked hard behind the scenes for the location, President Denis Sassou Nguesso's hometown, to be picked for the occasion.

Congo
Congo's Masonic lodges fall under control of securocrats

Two of the three main lodges in Congo are now headed by the powerful securocrats Jean-Dominique Okemba and Philippe Obara.

Chad, Congo
Congo's Freemasons shaken by Idriss Déby's death

Denis Sassou Nguesso introduced Idriss Déby to the Freemasons in the early 2000s, making him the first Deputy Grand Master (DGM) of the Grande loge du Congo (GLC).

Africa
Kako Nubukpo promotes single currency to French Freemasons

At the invitation of the Hélios, le Temple de l'Homme [...]

Congo
Splits among the Freemasons amid the economic turmoil

The country's main lodges are profoundly split over the disquieting situation that still prevails in Congo-B.

Spotlight | Africa
The Freemasons push back against the politicians

Freemasonry may be the classic means for governments to co-opt their elites, but lodges throughout west and central Africa are increasingly defying the politicians. An investigation into the lodges that are striving to assert their independence.

Gabon
Bongo wants to keep the ball front and centre

With opponents still contesting the election victory that returned him to power, Ali Bongo has taken to extending olive branches. It’s a risky strategy.

Madagascar
Grand Orient a fringe in Madagacar

Daniel Keller, the Grandmaster of Grand Orient de France (GODF) [...]

Burkina Faso
Zephirin Diabre networks in Paris

Burkina Faso opposition figure Zephirin Diabre, who is standing in next October’s presidential elections, networked with Freemason friends in Paris recently.

Ivory Coast
Marthe Amon Ago takes FPI to Gbagbo

A delegation from Front Populaire ivoirien (FPI) will visit Laurent Gbagbo at The Hague’s Inrichtingen Haaglanden prison on February 17. [...]