English Learning for Curious Minds | A More Interesting Way To Learn English

#617 | Bob Denard: The Mercenary Who Ruled the Comoros (English Listening Practice)

June 18 · 25 min · 24.2 MB
0:00-25:10

Streams straight from the publisher. podnod never proxies or re-hosts episode audio.

 


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. 

Bob Denard staged four coups, converted to Islam, built a farm, and controlled the country from the shadows for over a decade. 

It was a story of Cold War deals, shifting loyalties, and one last coup that ended his run. 

  • Location and poverty of the Comoros Islands
  • French rule and 1975 independence under Ahmed Abdallah
  • First coup by French mercenary Robert Denard
  • Denard's mercenary past and French Africa links
  • Ali Soilih's radical rule and the Moissy youth militia
  • 1978 coup restores Abdallah and Soilih killed
  • Denard becomes Comorian farmer and leads Presidential Guard
  • 1989 power struggle and suspicious death of Ahmed Abdallah
  • 1995 final coup and French Operation Azalee intervention
  • Denard's trial and death in 2007


 Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/bob-denard


---

You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية