Briefing Room 13.12.2025

Welcome back to the briefing room, the weekly show that attempts to beat the modern equivalent of an old-school "newshounds" metaphorically hiding behind the bushes before jumping out with a gigantic hammer and exclaiming, "What a scoop!" I'm Simon, and this week the stories we've dragged out from the Undergrowth are all focused on a single continent.

Africa, specifically the nations of Somalia, Benin, and Libya, where a combination of separatism, coups, and military maneuvers have fueled fears of future crises. And while very, very few are talking about these stories, they may soon turn out to be of major importance.

As always, thank you so much for subscribing. Your subscriptions help us not only produce bonus shows like this focused on the little known and unsexy stories shaping our world, but also allow the main channel to get its teeth into serious topics like Sudan that we couldn't otherwise afford to talk about. Let's get into it!