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

#617 | Bob Denard: The Mercenary Who Ruled the Comoros (English Listening Practice)18 jun25 min

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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 IslandsFrench rule and 1975 independence under Ahmed AbdallahFirst coup by French mercenary Robert DenardDenard's mercenary past and French Africa linksAli Soilih's radical rule and the Moissy youth militia1978 coup restores Abdallah and Soilih killedDenard becomes Comorian farmer and leads Presidential Guard1989 power struggle and suspicious death of Ahmed Abdallah1995 final coup and French Operation Azalee interventionDenard's trial and death in 2007

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

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