The Inside Story Podcast

Democratic Republic of Congo has suffered from war, rebel attacks, and deadly diseases for decades

But the situation is deteriorating even further.

More and more people are being killed in raids by armed groups.

And the Congolese people have reached breaking point.

A recent attack that killed eight people in the eastern city of Beni was blamed on rebel fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces or ADF…prompting an angry response from local people.

And much of their fury was directed at the UN’s peacekeeping mission.

Protesters, who say the troops are not keeping them safe, stormed the UN compound on Monday and torched the Mayor's office and several other buildings.

Chaos and gunfire followed and there were more deaths.

The UN denies that its peacekeepers used live rounds and called for calm. But on Tuesday protesters tried to force their way into another UN compound.

So what’s gone wrong?

Presenter: Nastasya Tay

Guests:

Indigo Ellis, head of Africa Risk analysis at Verisk Maplecroft, a global risk consultancy.

Lydia Zigomo, regional director for Horn, East and Central Africa at Oxfam International.

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#AlJazeeraEnglish #DRC

The UK's general election is less than three weeks away on December 12th.

It was called by Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson more than two years early, in a bid to get a parliamentary majority so he can “Get Brexit Done”.

His pledge on Britain's exit from the European Union is at the centre of his party’s election campaign.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is concentrating more on making Britain a fairer society.

He's unveiled a radical public spending plan, higher taxes for the rich and a crackdown on tax dodgers.

But what matters most for voters?

Presenter: Nastasya Tay

Guests:

Tony Travers, a professor at both the school of Public Policy and the Department of Government at the London School of Economics.

Alan Wager, research associate at the UK in a Changing Europe, a policy think-tank.

Sonia Purnell, author of 'Just Boris: A Tale of Blond Ambition'. Sonia was the former Deputy to Boris Johnson at the Daily Telegraph.

The UK's general election is less than three weeks away on December 12th.

It was called by Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson more than two years early, in a bid to get a parliamentary majority so he can “Get Brexit Done”.

His pledge on Britain's exit from the European Union is at the centre of his party’s election campaign.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is concentrating more on making Britain a fairer society.

He's unveiled a radical public spending plan, higher taxes for the rich and a crackdown on tax dodgers.

But what matters most for voters?

Presenter: Nastasya Tay

Guests:

Tony Travers, a professor at both the school of Public Policy and the Department of Government at the London School of Economics.

Alan Wager, research associate at the UK in a Changing Europe, a policy think-tank.

Sonia Purnell, author of 'Just Boris: A Tale of Blond Ambition'. Sonia was the former Deputy to Boris Johnson at the Daily Telegraph.

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Burundi has long been criticised for silencing dissent.

Human Rights Watch has said in the past, there have been killings, rapes and intimidation of political opponents.

And with a presidential election set for next year, Burundi is coming under even more scrutiny.

Opposition groups say the governing party is attacking them and creating a climate of fear.

But, the government rejects the allegations and insists the vote will be free and fair.

So can human rights be protected?

Presenter: Nastasya Tay

Guests:

Angela Muvumba Sellström, Peace and Conflict Researcher at Uppsala University and an expert on the Great Lakes Region.

Jonathan Offei-Ansah, Founder and Publisher of AfricaBriefing, a pan-African news magazine

Lewis Mudge, Director for Central Africa at Human Rights Watch

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#AlJazeeraEnglish #Burundi

Almost three decades after Georgia gained independence, protesters say free and fair elections still aren't allowed.

Demonstrations broke out in the capital of Tbilisi this week after the government failed to keep its promise to reform the electoral system.

Tens of thousands barricaded the gates of parliament, calling for an early election.

They say they were lied to and the ruling Georgian Dream party is using a broken system to stay in power.

So, could this turn into yet another crisis in this former Soviet republic?

And are outside forces involved?

Presenter: Halla Mohieddeen

Guests

Ghia Nodia, former minister of education in Georgia.

Shota Dighmelashvili, economist and leader of the opposition social movement, Shame.

And Ghia Abashidze, a political analyst who previously worked in the Georgian presidential press office.

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Israel is facing an unprecedented third election in just under a year.

That's after opposition leader Benny Gantz was unable to form a coalition government.

That attempt came after Benyamin Netanyah, who's seeking a record fifth term as Prime Minister, also failed.

Neither has managed to secure the backing of former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman, whose Yisrael Beytenu party is seen as a kingmaker.

But for Benny Gantz, the problem isn't Lieberman ... it's Netanyahu.

The mandate is now with the Knesset

But will it be able to move things forward?

And what's causing this breakdown in Israeli politics?

Presenter: Halla Mohieddeen

Guests

Yossi Beilin, former Israeli Minister of Justice and member of the Knesset with the Labour party.

Yossi Mekelberg, Professor of International Relations at Regent's University.

Mitchell Barak, CEO of Keevoon Global Research, a political consultancy.

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The protests that began in Hong Kong six months ago, show no signs of dying down.

A days-long standoff at Hong Kong Polytechnic University has led the U.S. Senate to pass a bill aimed at censuring Beijing.

The new Hong Kong Human Rights bill has infuriated China, which accuses the U.S. of ignoring protesters' violence.

Neither side looks like backing down ... so how will this end?

Presenter: Halla Mohieddeen.

Guests

Einar Tangen, Political Analyst and adviser to the Chinese government.

Benedict Rogers, Co-Founder of Hong Kong Watch, that's a human rights organisation.

David Zweig, Director of Transnational China Consulting Limited.

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It’s a dramatic shift in U.S. policy, and goes against the position taken by international organisations and most other countries.

The U.S. says it no longer views the illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank as “inconsistent with international law”...

The Palestinians are furious and many observers say it makes Israeli-Palestinian peace even more elusive.

It’s another U-turn on policy by the U.S. President in favour of Israel.

Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moved the American embassy there. He also recognised Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights from Syria.

So what's the reason for this latest controversial move?

Presenter: Imran Khan

Guests:

Gideon Levy, columnist at Haaretz News and author of 'The Punishment of Gaza'.

Richard Falk, professor emeritus at Princeton University. Richard is the former UN special rapporteur for occupied Palestinian territories.

Nour Odeh, political analyst and former spokesperson for the Palestinian Task Force on public diplomacy

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#AlJazeeraEnglish #Israel #Palestine

He's a hero for some, a war criminal to others,

Sri Lanka's new President is positioning himself as the strongman who can fix the nation's most challenging problems.

Promises by Gotapaya Rajapaksa to improve security and the struggling economy gained support at the ballot box, particulary from the Sinhala Buddhist majority.

But his swearing into office highlights the island's ethnic and religious split - similar to his brother Mahinda during his two terms as both president and prime minister.

Many Tamil and Muslim voters reject the Rakapaksas.

Gotapaya was defence secretary while his brother was president when the Tamil Tigers were defeated 10 years ago to end the 26 year long civil war.

Both are accused of war crimes.

And Muslims have faced hostility following the Easter suicide attacks that killed 263 people.

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Rajiva Wee-jen-Sinha, Former member of parliament

Rajesh Venu-gopal, Associate Professor, London School of Economics. Author of 'Nationalism, Development and Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka'

Roshni Kapur, Research Analyst, Institute for South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore

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#AlJazeeraEnglish #SriLanka #GotabayaRajapaksa

When hundreds of thousands of people dressed in florescent sleeveless jackets protested in France last November, nobody really knew how powerful a movement it would become.

The Yellow Vests took over the centre of Paris, and there were unprecedented scenes of destruction and chaos.

But what started as a protest against a controversial tax on fuel and the cost of living,quickly turned into a weekend of running battles with French police.

The protesters' demands grew to include president Emmanuel Macron's resignation. He refused to step down saying he was the right man to fix France's problems.

That includes addressing low wages, higher living standards and economic inequality.

Although Macron says he's taken measures --- a year on, the protesters say, he hasn't done enough.

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Alexandre Chantry, Coordinator of the Yellow Vest movement in Lille

Philippe Marliere, Professor of French and European Politics at University College London

Remi Bourgeot, Economist and Associate Fellow at the French Institute of International and Strategic Affairs

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#AlJazeeraEnglish #France #YellowVest