{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"English Learning for Curious Minds | A More Interesting Way To Learn English ","title":"#617 | Bob Denard: The Mercenary Who Ruled the Comoros (English Listening Practice)","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/d67de5f1\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1510,"description":"In 1975, a French mercenary landed in the Comoros, a chain of small islands off East Africa, and decided he was going to run the place. \n\nBob Denard staged four coups, converted to Islam, built a farm, and controlled the country from the shadows for over a decade. \n\nIt was a story of Cold War deals, shifting loyalties, and one last coup that ended his run. \n\nLocation and poverty of the Comoros Islands\nFrench rule and 1975 independence under Ahmed Abdallah\nFirst coup by French mercenary Robert Denard\nDenard's mercenary past and French Africa links\nAli Soilih's radical rule and the Moissy youth militia\n1978 coup restores Abdallah and Soilih killed\nDenard becomes Comorian farmer and leads Presidential Guard\n1989 power struggle and suspicious death of Ahmed Abdallah\n1995 final coup and French Operation Azalee intervention\nDenard's trial and death in 2007\n\n Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/bob-denard","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/HIneD2bpN38ZyIYQqvz9OwtMc5c5ep366psJkVe0ZiU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzU3MDEvMTYyMDk3/Mzg5MS1hcnR3b3Jr/LmpwZw.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}