Joe Slovo vs Taneti Maamau

Slovo joined the SACP as a young man, becoming a leading theorist and organizer. He later served as the party's general secretary and was a key figure in the alliance between the SACP and the ANC.

Slovo was a founding member of MK, the armed wing of the ANC, along with Nelson Mandela and others. He served on its high command and helped plan sabotage campaigns against apartheid infrastructure.

Slovo went into exile after the Rivonia Trial arrests. He became a key ANC leader abroad, coordinating military and political strategy, and served as the SACP general secretary from 1986.

Slovo returned to South Africa after the unbanning of the ANC. He played a key role in the negotiations to end apartheid, advocating for a negotiated settlement and serving as Minister of Housing in Mandela's government.

Taneti Maamau was elected President of Kiribati in March 2016, defeating incumbent Anote Tong. His election marked a shift in foreign policy, as he pursued closer ties with China. He became the country's head of state and government.

President Maamau announced Kiribati's severance of diplomatic relations with Taiwan and establishment of ties with the People's Republic of China in September 2019. This decision aligned Kiribati with China's One-China policy and secured Chinese infrastructure investment.

Taneti Maamau was re-elected as President of Kiribati in June 2020, securing a second term. The election was held amid the COVID-19 pandemic. His re-election confirmed continued support for his administration's policies, including the pivot toward China.

President Maamau suspended Kiribati's Parliament and the country's independent judiciary in 2022, citing constitutional powers. The move was criticized by opposition figures and international observers as a consolidation of executive power and a threat to democratic institutions.