Mohammed al-Amin al-Kanemi vs William Tolbert

Al-Kanemi, a scholar and military leader, organized the defense of the Bornu Empire against the Fulani jihad led by Usman dan Fodio. His forces repelled the Fulani invasion, preserving the independence of Bornu and halting the expansion of the Sokoto Caliphate into the region.

After successfully defending Bornu, al-Kanemi gradually assumed political power, reducing the authority of the Sayfawa dynasty. He established his own dynasty, the al-Kanemi, effectively ending the centuries-old Sayfawa rule and becoming the de facto ruler of Bornu.

Al-Kanemi reorganized the Bornu military, incorporating cavalry and firearms, and reformed the administrative structure to centralize power. These reforms strengthened the state's ability to resist external threats and maintain internal order.

Al-Kanemi led military campaigns against the Sokoto Caliphate, engaging in battles to secure Bornu's borders. These conflicts resulted in a stalemate, with neither side achieving decisive victory, but they solidified Bornu's independence.

Tolbert became President of Liberia on July 23, 1971, after the death of William Tubman. He continued Tubman's policies of economic openness and pro-Western alignment but faced growing economic inequality and political unrest.

In April 1979, Tolbert's government proposed a price increase for rice, a staple food. This sparked massive protests and riots in Monrovia, resulting in dozens of deaths. The government was forced to reverse the price hike, but the crisis weakened Tolbert's authority.

On April 12, 1980, Tolbert was assassinated during a coup led by Master Sergeant Samuel Doe. Doe's soldiers stormed the presidential mansion, killing Tolbert and several of his aides. The coup ended 133 years of Americo-Liberian rule and plunged Liberia into decades of instability.