The Inside Story Podcast

Joseph Kabila, who ruled DR Congo for almost two decades, is making a comeback. He will lead the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), a political-military alliance with M23 fighters that opposes President Felix Tshisekedi's government in Kinshasa. Several attempts at a peace deal between government forces, rebels and armed groups have already failed, and many fear the move will worsen the fighting in eastern DR Congo. Is this coalition likely to escalate the conflict? In this episode: Henry-Pacifique Mayala, Co-ordinator of the Kivu Security Tracker at Ebuteli institute Ovigwe Eguegu, Policy Analyst at Development Reimagined, specialising in African geopolitics and great power competition Vincent Rouget, Head of Political Risk for Africa at Control Risks, a global consultancy Host: Dareen Abughaida Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

US President Donald Trump has announced a deal to bring Russian diesel into the United States, a move welcomed by the Kremlin. He's accused Ukraine of ignoring his calls to halt strikes on Russian refineries. Ukraine insists it will only stop striking Russian refineries if Moscow ceases attacks on its energy facilities. With Washington and Europe diverging further on Ukraine, how long can European leaders continue their economic and military support for Kyiv? In this episode: Lisa Yasko, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament Andrey Kortunov, Russian affairs analyst John Lough, Head of Foreign Policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre Host: Rishaad Salamat Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Voters in Bosnia and Herzegovina go to the polls for the 10th time since the end of the war more than three decades ago. They're electing more than 500 members of a complex government structure. But deep political and ethnic divides remain. So, how will it play out, both in Bosnia and in the region? In this episode: Jahja Muhasilovic, Assistant Professor at the International University of Sarajevo Nina Sajic, Professor in the School of Political Science at the University of Banja Luka  Bodo Weber, Senior Associate at the Democratization Policy Council Host: Sami Zeidan Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

The last remaining US troops have left Iraq, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion to oust Saddam Hussein. After years of conflict and instability, Iraq is entering a new phase without US forces on the ground. Is the Iraqi government ready? And who stands to gain from the US withdrawal? In this episode:  Ahmed Rushdi, President of the House of Iraqi Expertise Foundation Kenneth Katzman, Senior Fellow at The Soufan Center Abdullah AlShayji, Professor at Kuwait University Host: Dareen Abughaida Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Fighting is intensifying between Yemen's Ansar Allah Houthis and Saudi Arabia. For the first time since a ceasefire in 2022, the Houthis have fired missiles towards the capital, Riyadh. The Iran-backed group says it will respond to any escalation with an escalation of its own. But it also risks dragging the wider region into conflict. What will it take to stop the attacks? In this episode:  Nawaf Obaid, Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London and former advisor to the Saudi government  Muhanad Seloom, Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs Ibrahim Jalal, Yemeni affairs analyst who specialises in regional security and armed groups Host: Rob Matheson Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

The Ansarullah Houthis seize Yemen's Red Sea coast, cementing their hold on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The advance of the Tehran-aligned group threatens an alternative route for energy supplies - with traffic in the Strait of Hormuz already limited. Will it give Iran leverage in its war with the US? In this episode:  Ahmed Al-Ashwal - Military and security researcher, and a former pilot officer with Yemen's armed forces. Jennifer Gavito - Former U.S. Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Middle East and a former State Department Official  Abas Aslani - Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies Host: Neave Barker Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

New Israeli attacks in Lebanon, after soldiers were killed for the first time since a fragile truce with Beirut began in June. It comes despite more Lebanese-Israeli talks in Rome in a U.S.-brokered peace process. So where do things stand now?  In this episode:  Maha Yahya, Director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut Jennifer Gavito, Former U.S. Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Rami Khouri, Distinguished Public Policy Fellow at the  American University of Beirut Host: James Bays  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

How much of a challenge are wildfires to Europe? Rapidly spreading blazes are scorching the continent, destroying forests, farmland, homes and businesses. They're becoming bigger and more difficult to control. So, what's fuelling the flames? In this episode:  Paleologos Paleologou -- Geographer and an Associate Professor of Forest Protection at the Agricultural University of Athens Marta Yebra, Director of the Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, Australian National University Carlo Buontempo, Director of Copernicus Climate Change Service  Host: Mohammed Jamjoom Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube