F. W. de Klerk vs Thongloun Sisoulith

F. W. de Klerk was elected leader of the National Party, succeeding P. W. Botha. He became State President of South Africa later that year, inheriting a country under international sanctions and internal unrest.

De Klerk announced the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC) and other liberation movements, and ordered the release of Nelson Mandela after 27 years in prison. This was a pivotal step towards ending apartheid.

De Klerk led the National Party in negotiations with the ANC and other parties to dismantle apartheid. The negotiations resulted in the 1993 Interim Constitution and the first multi-racial elections in 1994.

De Klerk shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela for their roles in the peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy. The award recognized their efforts in negotiating a peaceful end to racial segregation.

After the 1994 elections, de Klerk served as Deputy President in Nelson Mandela's Government of National Unity. He held the position until 1996, when the National Party withdrew from the coalition.

De Klerk publicly apologized for apartheid, stating that the policy was morally wrong and had caused immense suffering. The apology was seen as a significant gesture of reconciliation.

Thongloun Sisoulith was appointed Prime Minister of Laos by the National Assembly, succeeding Thongsing Thammavong. He was tasked with overseeing economic development, infrastructure projects, and managing Laos's growing debt, particularly from Chinese-backed investments.

Thongloun Sisoulith was elected President of Laos and General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party at the 11th Party Congress. He succeeded Boungnang Vorachith, consolidating both state and party leadership in a single figure, a common practice in Lao politics.

Thongloun Sisoulith oversaw the completion and opening of the Lao-China Railway, a $6 billion project linking Vientiane to Kunming, China. The railway was a flagship of China's Belt and Road Initiative in Laos, but raised concerns about debt dependency and Chinese influence.

Thongloun Sisoulith chaired the ASEAN summit in Vientiane, focusing on regional economic recovery post-COVID-19, Myanmar's political crisis, and the South China Sea disputes. The summit reaffirmed Laos's role in regional diplomacy despite its small size.