Mohamed Morsi vs Nouri al-Maliki

Morsi won Egypt's first democratic presidential election after the 2011 revolution, defeating Ahmed Shafiq. He became the first Islamist and first civilian president of Egypt, representing the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party.

Morsi issued a constitutional declaration that placed his decisions above judicial review and protected the constituent assembly drafting the new constitution. This move sparked massive protests and accusations of a power grab, deepening political polarization.

After mass protests against his rule, the Egyptian military led by General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi removed Morsi from office. He was placed under house arrest and later faced trials on charges including espionage and inciting violence.

Morsi collapsed and died during a court hearing in Cairo where he was on trial for espionage. His death was attributed to natural causes, but his family and supporters alleged medical neglect. He was buried in a secret location.

Maliki was elected Prime Minister of Iraq by the Council of Representatives, forming a unity government. His election followed months of political deadlock after the 2005 parliamentary elections, and he inherited a country mired in sectarian violence.

Maliki supported the US troop surge and launched the Baghdad Security Plan, a joint US-Iraqi operation to reduce sectarian violence. The plan succeeded in lowering casualty rates, but Maliki's government was criticized for sectarian bias in its security forces.

Maliki's government oversaw the complete withdrawal of US combat forces from Iraq by December 2011, as per the Status of Forces Agreement. The withdrawal ended the US military presence, but left Iraq facing security challenges and political instability.

Under Maliki's leadership, the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of the Islamic State (ISIS) offensive, losing control of Mosul and large parts of northern Iraq. Maliki's sectarian policies were blamed for alienating Sunnis and enabling ISIS's rise.

Facing intense domestic and international pressure after the ISIS advance, Maliki resigned as Prime Minister in August 2014. He was succeeded by Haider al-Abadi, ending his eight-year tenure and marking a shift in Iraqi politics.