Ali Bongo vs Rafic Hariri

Ali Bongo was elected President of Gabon following the death of his father, Omar Bongo, who had ruled for 41 years. The election was marred by allegations of fraud and opposition protests, but Bongo's victory was confirmed by the constitutional court.

President Ali Bongo suffered a stroke while attending a summit in Saudi Arabia. He spent several months abroad for medical treatment, leading to a power vacuum and speculation about his ability to govern. His absence fueled political instability.

President Ali Bongo was overthrown by a military coup led by General Brice Oligui Nguema. The coup occurred shortly after Bongo was declared winner of a disputed presidential election. The military cited corruption and poor governance as reasons for the takeover.

Rafic Hariri was appointed Prime Minister of Lebanon on October 31, 1992, after the end of the civil war. He was tasked with rebuilding the country's economy and infrastructure, leveraging his personal wealth and international connections.

Hariri's government initiated the reconstruction of Beirut's central district through the Solidere company. The project rebuilt the war-torn city center with modern infrastructure, but faced criticism for displacing residents and favoring wealthy investors.

Hariri resigned as Prime Minister in December 1998 after a dispute with President Emile Lahoud over economic policy and corruption. He returned to power in 2000 after winning parliamentary elections.

Rafic Hariri was assassinated on February 14, 2005, when a massive truck bomb exploded near his motorcade in Beirut. His death sparked the Cedar Revolution, leading to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and international investigations.