Laurent Gbagbo vs Ranasinghe Premadasa

Gbagbo won the presidential election as the candidate of the Ivorian Popular Front, defeating incumbent Robert Gu

A failed coup attempt by disgruntled soldiers escalated into a civil war, splitting Ivory Coast into a government-controlled south and rebel-held north. The conflict resulted in thousands of deaths and displacement.

Gbagbo refused to concede defeat after losing the presidential election to Alassane Ouattara, despite international recognition of Ouattara's victory. This sparked a second civil war that lasted five months and caused over 3,000 deaths.

Gbagbo was arrested by forces loyal to Ouattara with French and UN support. He was transferred to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity for his role in the post-election violence.

The ICC acquitted Gbagbo of all charges of crimes against humanity, citing insufficient evidence. The acquittal was controversial, with victims' groups expressing disappointment. Gbagbo was later allowed to return to Ivory Coast.

Premadasa launched the Gam Udawa (Village Awakening) program, a rural development initiative aimed at providing housing, infrastructure, and employment to impoverished villages. The program built thousands of houses and improved living conditions in rural areas.

Ranasinghe Premadasa was elected President of Sri Lanka on December 19, 1988, and assumed office on January 2, 1989. He succeeded J. R. Jayewardene and became the first president from a humble background, representing the United National Party (UNP).

Premadasa initiated direct peace talks with the LTTE in 1990, leading to a temporary ceasefire. However, the negotiations collapsed in June 1990 when the LTTE resumed hostilities, escalating the civil war.

Premadasa was assassinated on May 1, 1993, during a May Day rally in Colombo by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber. The attack killed him and several others, marking the first assassination of a Sri Lankan head of state by the LTTE.