{"podcast":{"title":"The Brink","slug":"the-brink-7481910","podcast_index_feed_id":7481910,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/68bb49871af371182ae70db4","website_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/the-brink","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/cover/1757104476134-28bd493d-5273-4cf0-9918-8a6d2148544c.jpeg","author":"The Brink","episode_count":57,"summary":"Welcome to your much-needed antidote to centrist dad podcasts. Presented by Daily Telegraph columnist and foreign correspondent Jake Wallis Simons and former parachute regiment officer and geopolitical analyst Andrew Fox, The Brink brings their wealth of real-life experience to bear upon the most important topics of the day, from Israel to immigration, Ukraine to Islamism, asylum hotels to the rise of Reform UK. With a host of stellar guests and an emphasis on common sense, Jake and Andrew explore what it will take to bring the West back from the brink. A podcast from the edge of what’s coming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-17T06:17:52.521942+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-brink-7481910"},"episode":{"title":"The Brink in Somaliland: Rageh Omar on Israel and the new scramble for Africa","slug":"the-brink-in-somaliland-rageh-omar-on-israel-and-the-new-scramble-for-africa","published_at":"2026-05-21T17:19:14+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-brink-7481910/the-brink-in-somaliland-rageh-omar-on-israel-and-the-new-scramble-for-africa","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-brink-7481910","url":"https://shows.acast.com/the-brink/episodes/6a0f3e9280978431daad95bd","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/68bb49871af371182ae70db4/e/6a0f3e9280978431daad95bd/media.mp3","summary":"Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/the-brink-in-somaliland-rageh-omar?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by journalist and broadcaster Rageh Omaar for a conversation from Hargeisa on the extraordinary story of Somaliland and why this unrecognised state is suddenly becoming one of the world’s most important geopolitical flashpoints. We explore Somaliland’s history as a former British protectorate, its brutal war for independence from Somalia, and how it rebuilt itself into a relatively stable and democratic country despite receiving almost no international recognition. Rageh explains why Somaliland sees itself as a nation that has been unfairly locked out of the international system, even while functioning more effectively than many recognised states. The conversation then turns to the historic decision by Israel to formally recognise Somaliland in December 2025. Rageh discusses why the move transformed Somaliland’s international profile overnight and why relations between Somaliland and Israel have developed so warmly despite Somaliland being a deeply conservative Muslim society. We also examine the wider geopolitical battle unfolding across the Horn of Africa. From China and Turkey’s growing influence in Somalia and Djibouti to the strategic importance of the Bab el-Mandeb shipping route, we discuss why global powers are increasingly focusing on Somaliland and whether Britain is making a major strategic mistake by failing to recognise it. Finally, we discuss Somalia’s ongoing instability, the threat posed by Al Shabaab, the role of the Somaliland diaspora in rebuilding the country, and why Somaliland could become one of…","meta_description":"Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/the-brink-in-somaliland-rageh-omar?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2774,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-brink-7481910/episodes/the-brink-in-somaliland-rageh-omar-on-israel-and-the-new-scramble-for-africa/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-brink-7481910/the-brink-in-somaliland-rageh-omar-on-israel-and-the-new-scramble-for-africa.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}