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

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

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

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