Henri Konan Bedie vs Marina Silva

After the death of President Felix Houphouet-Boigny in December 1993, Bedie, as President of the National Assembly, assumed the presidency. He consolidated power by sidelining rival Alassane Ouattara, whom he accused of being a foreigner.

Bedie promoted the concept of 'Ivoirit

On December 24, 1999, Bedie was overthrown in a military coup led by General Robert Guei. The coup occurred amid economic hardship and political instability, ending Bedie's presidency and marking the first coup in Cote d'Ivoire's history.

After the 1999 coup, Bedie fled to France. He returned to Cote d'Ivoire in 2001 and resumed political activity, leading his party, the Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI). He remained a key opposition figure in the post-coup period.

Marina Silva was appointed Minister of Environment under President Luiz In

Marina Silva resigned as Minister of Environment, citing frustration with the Lula administration's support for infrastructure projects in the Amazon and lack of progress on environmental protection.

Marina Silva ran for President of Brazil in the 2010 election as the Green Party candidate. She finished third with 19.3% of the vote, a strong showing that established her as a national political figure.

Marina Silva ran for President of Brazil in the 2014 election as the Brazilian Socialist Party candidate. She finished third with 21.3% of the vote, after initially leading in polls following the death of candidate Eduardo Campos.