Che Guevara vs Holden Roberto

Guevara joined Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement, landing in Cuba aboard the Granma. He became a key guerrilla commander, leading troops in the Battle of Santa Clara, which helped overthrow Fulgencio Batista's regime.

Guevara was appointed Minister of Industries in Cuba, where he implemented radical economic policies, including nationalization and central planning. His efforts to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on sugar largely failed.

Guevara led a small Cuban force to support the Simba rebellion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The campaign was unsuccessful due to poor logistics, lack of local support, and superior opposition forces, leading to his withdrawal.

Guevara was captured by Bolivian forces, trained and advised by the CIA, while leading a guerrilla insurgency. He was executed the next day in La Higuera. His death turned him into a global icon of revolutionary struggle.

Roberto founded the FNLA, a nationalist movement fighting for Angolan independence from Portugal. He established a government-in-exile in Zaire and received support from the US and China, becoming a key figure in the independence struggle.

Roberto unilaterally declared independence for Angola from his base in Zaire, establishing a rival government to the MPLA's declaration. This move was not internationally recognized and contributed to the outbreak of the Angolan Civil War.

Roberto's FNLA forces were decisively defeated by the MPLA, which was supported by Cuban troops. The FNLA was driven from its strongholds and effectively ceased to be a major military force in the civil war.

After his military defeat, Roberto fled to Zaire, where he lived in exile. His political influence waned as the MPLA consolidated power, and he was unable to mount a significant challenge to the Angolan government.