Hold Your Fire!

Join Crisis Group's Executive Vice President Richard Atwood as he dives deep into the conflicts that rage around the globe with Crisis Group analysts and special guests. These experts bring a unique, on-the-ground perspective to understanding both why those conflicts persist — and what could bring them to an end.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Myanmar’s Devastating Earthquake Impact its Civil War?
Apr 4, 2025 – 45:00
South Sudan on the Brink of Another War
Mar 29, 2025 – 44:54
Israel Goes Back to War in Gaza
Mar 22, 2025 – 50:05
Trump, France and European Security
Mar 17, 2025 – 46:03
What Does the PKK Ceasefire Mean for Türkiye, Iraq and Syria?
Mar 8, 2025 – 48:14
A Decisive Turn in Sudan’s War?
Mar 1, 2025 – 49:22
U.S. and Russia Start Ukraine Talks, Transatlantic Ties Unravel
Feb 22, 2025 – 45:24
How Will Trump Deal with Iran?
Feb 14, 2025 – 45:03
Trump’s Gaza Plan
Feb 8, 2025 – 45:37
Can Diplomacy Stop Rwandan-backed Rebels in the Eastern DRC?
Feb 1, 2025 – 49:15
What's Next for Syria?
Jan 25, 2025 – 51:38
Trump in Africa
Nov 29, 2024 – 50:32
North Korean Forces in Russia and North East Asia Security
Nov 15, 2024 – 40:07
Trump and the World
Nov 9, 2024 – 56:19
Strongmen and Geopolitical Jostling in Central Africa
Nov 2, 2024 – 48:33
The “Generals’ Plan”, Sinwar’s Death and a Year in Gaza
Oct 26, 2024 – 46:05
Can Either Trump or NATO Membership Help End the Ukraine War?
Oct 11, 2024 – 39:17
“Restoring Deterrence”: Dangerous Words in the Middle East
Oct 4, 2024 – 51:29
Will Israel’s Bombing Start an All-out War or Force Hizbollah Back from the Border?
Sep 25, 2024 – 40:11
The United Nations in a Divided World
Sep 20, 2024 – 45:08
What Hope for a Gaza Ceasefire and What Happens Without One?
Jul 22, 2024 – 42:19
Pakistan’s Political Standoff and Surging Militant Violence
Jul 12, 2024 – 46:02
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb on NATO, Europe’s Security and its Relations with the Rest of the World
Jul 5, 2024 – 47:05
Houthi Strikes, Red Sea Shipping and Yemen’s War
Jun 28, 2024 – 47:40
Ukraine and European Security
Jun 21, 2024 – 45:39
Türkiye in its Neighbourhood: “Strong in the Field, Strong at the Table”?
Jun 15, 2024 – 44:38
A Big Week for Democracy: Elections in India, South Africa and Mexico
Jun 7, 2024 – 52:03
Ruto in Washington: Kenya’s State Visit and the U.S.’s Africa Policy
May 31, 2024 – 47:00
Iranian President Raisi’s Sudden Death and the ICC Case Against Israeli and Hamas Leaders
May 25, 2024 – 50:34
South China Sea: The World’s Most Treacherous Waters?
May 17, 2024 – 45:44
War and Hunger in Gaza and Darfur
May 10, 2024 – 50:25
Egypt and Gaza: Cairo Talks, Sinai Fears
May 3, 2024 – 43:58
Could a Competitive Vote Offer a Way out of Venezuela’s Crisis?
Apr 26, 2024 – 45:52
Bonus Episode: Polarisation, Political Violence and the U.S. Elections
Apr 24, 2024 – 46:31
Out of the Shadows: Exchanges of Fire Between Iran and Israel
Apr 19, 2024 – 49:11
What’s Left of Sudan After a Year At War?
Apr 12, 2024 – 44:43
The Moscow Attack, Afghanistan’s Islamic State branch and the Ukraine War
Mar 29, 2024 – 46:17
Conferences in Germany, India and Türkiye and the Demise of Peace Deals
Mar 26, 2024 – 47:39
Haiti in Freefall
Mar 15, 2024 – 45:50
Starving Gaza
Mar 9, 2024 – 51:46
Military Rule and Russian Mercenaries in the Sahel
Mar 1, 2024 – 48:53
Great Lakes Politics and the Fight for the Eastern DR Congo
Feb 23, 2024 – 52:07
“Axis of Resistance” versus U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria
Feb 13, 2024 – 41:00
The Red Sea and the Horn
Feb 3, 2024 – 49:47
War of Attrition in Ukraine
Jan 26, 2024 – 40:15
Ten Conflicts to Watch in 2024
Jan 22, 2024 – 52:28
A New Phase in the War in Gaza?
Jan 13, 2024 – 56:05
Iran: Gaza, “Axis of Resistance” and Nuclear Calculations
Dec 1, 2023 – 44:02
What Threat Does the Rebel Offensive in Myanmar Pose to the Junta?
Nov 24, 2023 – 40:47
Will There Be a Day After for Gaza?
Nov 17, 2023 – 47:01

Recent Reviews

dbalke23

Great substance

Hold Your Fire! is my favorite podcast for substantive insight on conflict and peacebuilding. I find the variety of topics nicely curated and sufficiently diverse to provide one with a good basis of understanding of key conflict dynamics taking place across the globe. The insight offered by Crisis Group analysts is concise, nuanced, balanced, and digestible. My only wish is that they offered more episodes, but perfection takes time, and there are always the Crisis Group’s sister podcasts, The Horn and others.
sssr2

Great, but Too Much on Russia/Ukraine

I have loved this podcast from the beginning, and the experts and the discussion are always enlightening. I feel like I’ve learned so much from it, particularly about regions of the world I didn’t know much about before. However, this year, it feels like every other episode is about Russia/Ukraine. Yes, it is an incredibly important conflict, but it isn’t the only one. It feels like many current ongoing crises and conflicts around the world are being overlooked due to the podcast relating everything back to this essentially European conflict. Even when they do cover other parts of the world, it’s always somehow brought back to a discussion of Russia. I wish they would just release a second podcast for all Russia/Ukraine-related analysis and reserve this one for a variety of updates and analysis of all conflicts around the world. I love this podcast, but have been frustrated by this lately.
Assjack 2

War of Terror series is superb

Extremely insightful analysis and discussion — including of complex legal and policy issues, but in an accessible way for the wider public. Stephen Pomper is particularly outstanding. Bravo!