Conflicts of Interest

ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data)
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The world is in turmoil, from wars in Europe and the Middle East to political crises, violent protests, and rising global unrest. Conflicts of Interest goes beyond the headlines to explain the forces shaping today’s conflicts. Hosted by ACLED founder and conflict expert Professor Clionadh Raleigh, and joined by a rotating cast of conflict specialists, regional analysts, and experts in news narratives, this fortnightly podcast unpacks wars, protests, political violence, and international power struggles with clarity and context. No drama, no sensationalism — just what happened, why it matters, and how it fits into the bigger picture. For listeners who want to understand war, politics, and global conflict without the noise, Conflicts of Interest makes sense of a world on edge. Brought to you by ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data).

  1. 4h ago

    Saudi Arabia under attack & Ethiopia on brink of war | Red Sea crisis explained

    Houthi missiles are hitting Saudi airports as Ethiopia and Eritrea move closer to war.  In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh, Bron Mills and Dr. Jalale Getachew Birru examine more than 100 Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia in just 30 days, including attacks on airports, and the escalating threat of war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. From the Houthis' campaign against Saudi Arabia and threats to Red Sea shipping to Eritrean troops entering Tigray, Ethiopia's ambitions over the port of Assab, and Egypt's growing influence in the Horn of Africa, the conversation explores how these conflicts are connected — and what could happen next. Why won't the Houthis back down? Could Ethiopia invade Eritrea? And is a wider regional war becoming inevitable? Plus: Israel and Gaza: Has the war changed the world, and how is it shaping political debate?Ukraine: Russian strikes target power plants and energy infrastructure.US and Russia: Trump faces bipartisan criticism over Russian diesel purchases.France: Hackers manipulate supermarket refrigeration systems, causing fires and food losses.Talk to us For more conversations like this, subscribe to Conflicts of Interest and watch the full episode on YouTube.  Conflicts of Interest: https://www.youtube.com/@ConflictsOfInterestACLED 📱 Did you know you can follow Conflicts of Interest on TikTok?

    Saudi Arabia under attack & Ethiopia on brink of war | Red Sea crisis explained

  2. 6d ago

    Ethiopia and Eritrea: How bad could this get?

    Ethiopia’s forces have retaken Mekelle — but the fighting in the north is far from over, as regional relationships are also shifting across the Horn of Africa and Red Sea, with Egypt, Eritrea, and Sudan renewing ties. Prof. Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills are joined again by ACLED’s Dr. Jalale Getachew Birru to unpack what comes next: the future of the TPLF and TDF, Eritrea’s role in the conflict, Ethiopia’s ambitions for access to the Red Sea, and the growing risk of fighting crossing Ethiopia’s borders. They look at the wider regional picture, from Egypt and Sudan to Yemen, Somalia, and the Gulf, and ask how a confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea could pull in competing powers across the Red Sea. Plus:  UK security: What the withdrawal of US aircraft from RAF Fairford could tell us about confidence in Britain’s ability to protect critical military infrastructure — and respond to unconventional security threats.Iran: With the Strait of Hormuz returning toward normal operations, has Tehran lost one of its biggest sources of leverage — and where does the conflict go from here?Saudi Arabia and the Houthis: As Riyadh considers renewed support for forces fighting the Houthis, can a new counter-offensive actually shift the balance in Yemen?Track the conflict in Ethiopia with ACLED’s latest data at acleddata.com  Talk to us For more conversations like this, subscribe to Conflicts of Interest and watch the full episode on YouTube.  Conflicts of Interest: https://www.youtube.com/@ConflictsOfInterestACLED 📱 Did you know you can follow Conflicts of Interest on TikTok?

    Ethiopia and Eritrea: How bad could this get?

  3. Sep 30

    Ethiopia’s seven-group anti-government alliance isn’t what it seems

    Fighting is escalating across northern Ethiopia. Is the seven-group anti-government alliance already falling apart? Prof. Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills are joined by ACLED's Jalale Getachew Birru to unpack the TPLF offensive, divisions within the rebel coalition, and what Eritrea's and Egypt's involvement means for the next phase of the conflict in Ethiopia. We break down why the Djibouti trade corridor — Ethiopia's vital economic lifeline — could shape what happens next. This episode provides data-driven analysis of the Tigray war resurgence, Eritrea-Ethiopia tensions, Abiy Ahmed’s strategy, and the regional struggle involving Eritrea, Egypt, and Tigray news from northern Ethiopia. No spin. Just the data. PLUS: UK terror threat: What the RAF Fairford arrests could tell us about how foreign states test British security — and whether UK institutions are equipped to respond to less conventional threats.Iran: With Strait of Hormuz traffic reportedly back towards pre-war capacity, has Iran lost one of its biggest sources of leverage in the conflict? Saudi Arabia and the Houthis: Why Riyadh is turning to Israel and the UAE for help — and what Abu Dhabi could demand in return for its support.Talk to us For more conversations like this, subscribe to Conflicts of Interest and watch the full episode on YouTube.  Conflicts of Interest: https://www.youtube.com/@ConflictsOfInterestACLED 📱 Did you know you can follow Conflicts of Interest on TikTok?

    Ethiopia’s seven-group anti-government alliance isn’t what it seems

  4. Sep 24

    Is Ethiopia at war again?

    In this emergency episode, Prof. Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills are joined by ACLED Senior Analyst for East Africa Dr Jalale Getachew Birru to unpack the sudden surge in fighting in northern Ethiopia. What has changed? Who is fighting whom? And is Ethiopia heading back towards full-scale war? They break down the latest developments in Tigray, the new alliances forming against Abiy Ahmed’s government, and why the fighting cannot be understood in isolation. From Eritrea and Egypt to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the Houthis, Ethiopia’s conflict is increasingly tied to a much bigger struggle for influence and control around the Red Sea. This is expert-led conflict analysis connecting what is happening on the ground in Tigray to the regional power struggle that could determine what happens next. Talk to us For more conversations like this, subscribe to Conflicts of Interest and watch the full episode on YouTube.  Conflicts of Interest: https://www.youtube.com/@ConflictsOfInterestACLED 📱 Did you know you can follow Conflicts of Interest on TikTok?

    Is Ethiopia at war again?

  5. Sep 23

    Ethiopia, Iran, AfD, Cartels & Houthis: What headlines actually matter?

    Trump, Cartels, and Fuel Prices: Noise or News? There’s a lot happening in the world. But how much of it actually matters? This week, Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills introduce Noise or News? — a new game sorting the headlines worth paying attention to from those making more noise than impact. They bounce around the world: from a new opposition coalition in Ethiopia and the rise of Germany’s AfD, to Mexico’s changing cartel violence, Trump’s latest fight with the media, and protests over fuel prices. Plus: what 200 days of war with Iran have actually changed, why Saudi Arabia is struggling with the Houthis, whether sanctions against the International Criminal Court really matter, and the slightly stranger question of whether Narendra Modi managed to give world leaders food poisoning. And in What Fresh Hell Awaits?, Clionadh returns to Ethiopia, where the latest political maneuvering may be less important than what it signals about what comes next. Talk to us For more conversations like this, subscribe to Conflicts of Interest and watch the full episode on YouTube.  Conflicts of Interest: https://www.youtube.com/@ConflictsOfInterestACLED 📱 Did you know you can follow Conflicts of Interest on TikTok?

    Ethiopia, Iran, AfD, Cartels & Houthis: What headlines actually matter?

  6. Sep 16

    Yemen: Who are the Houthis and what do they want?

    Who are the Houthis and what do they want? As the Houthis advance in Yemen and Saudi Arabia takes missile and drone hits, the forces meant to stop them are collapsing — with some units reportedly made up of nearly 80% ghost soldiers who exist on paper but not on the battlefield. In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills go beyond the headlines to explain what is actually happening in Yemen: who the Houthis (Ansar Allah) are, what they want, why Iran doesn't simply control them, and why Saudi Arabia is struggling to find anyone willing to help. We break down Houthi goals and territorial gains, Saudi Arabia's security dilemma, the limits of drones and airpower, and the growing problem of paper armies that can't deliver on the ground — and what Yemen tells us about a much bigger shift in modern warfare. Talk to us For more conversations like this, subscribe to Conflicts of Interest and watch the full episode on YouTube.  Conflicts of Interest: https://www.youtube.com/@ConflictsOfInterestACLED 📱 Did you know you can follow Conflicts of Interest on TikTok?

    Yemen: Who are the Houthis and what do they want?

  7. Sep 9

    The world’s most shocking violence — and why you’re ignoring it

    In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, Professor Clionadh Raleigh and Bron Mills go beyond the headlines to break down extreme violence worldwide.  From cartel massacres in Mexico to gang killings in Haiti's Kenshoff, Houthi attacks around Yemen and Saudi Arabia, renewed Russian strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine, to protest crackdowns in Iran — why does some violence dominate the news while far deadlier crises are ignored? We cover:  Why Ukraine ranks #1 for fatalities, but India, Nigeria, Brazil, and Mexico lead for population exposure to political violence. Why Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, Cameroon, and the Philippines have the highest civilian share of deaths from gangs and organized crime. Why extreme violence works — group cohesion, kidnapping economics, and being "beyond negotiation." Plus: migration battles in the UK and US, anti-AfD protests in Germany, Israel's West Bank operation, and why public empathy is totally exhausted. Talk to us For more conversations like this, subscribe to Conflicts of Interest and watch the full episode on YouTube.  Conflicts of Interest: https://www.youtube.com/@ConflictsOfInterestACLED 📱 Did you know you can follow Conflicts of Interest on TikTok?

    The world’s most shocking violence — and why you’re ignoring it

  8. Sep 2

    Is the US running out of missiles?

    The US is using missiles and air-defence interceptors across multiple fronts — from the war with Iran and protecting bases in the Middle East to years of support for Ukraine. But can American weapons production keep up with demand? In this episode of Conflicts of Interest, ACLED President and CEO Clionadh Raleigh joins Bron Mills to ask whether the US is really running short of missiles — and what dwindling stocks could mean for Ukraine, Europe and American deterrence against Russia and China. They deconstruct why sophisticated interceptors take so long and cost so much to produce, how cheap drone swarms are changing the economics of warfare, and why critical minerals are becoming increasingly important to military power. Plus: the latest US-Iran exchanges, the economic pressure building inside Iran, and why Clionadh believes drones, missiles, AI and the ability to outproduce your opponents could define the next era of state-on-state conflict. Talk to us For more conversations like this, subscribe to Conflicts of Interest and watch the full episode on YouTube.  Conflicts of Interest: https://www.youtube.com/@ConflictsOfInterestACLED 📱 Did you know you can follow Conflicts of Interest on TikTok?

    Is the US running out of missiles?
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About

The world is in turmoil, from wars in Europe and the Middle East to political crises, violent protests, and rising global unrest. Conflicts of Interest goes beyond the headlines to explain the forces shaping today’s conflicts. Hosted by ACLED founder and conflict expert Professor Clionadh Raleigh, and joined by a rotating cast of conflict specialists, regional analysts, and experts in news narratives, this fortnightly podcast unpacks wars, protests, political violence, and international power struggles with clarity and context. No drama, no sensationalism — just what happened, why it matters, and how it fits into the bigger picture. For listeners who want to understand war, politics, and global conflict without the noise, Conflicts of Interest makes sense of a world on edge. Brought to you by ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data).

Information

  • Creator
    ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data)
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Conflicts of Interest
  • Show Website
    Conflicts of Interest

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