Suleiman Frangieh vs Vital Kamerhe

Suleiman Frangieh was elected President of Lebanon on August 17, 1970, by a single-vote majority in Parliament, defeating Elias Sarkis. His presidency marked a shift away from Chehabist policies toward a more traditional, pro-Western and Maronite-dominated approach, which exacerbated sectarian tensions.

The Lebanese Civil War began in April 1975 during Frangieh's presidency, triggered by clashes between Phalangist militias and Palestinian factions. Frangieh's weak and sectarian-leaning government failed to contain the violence, and the conflict rapidly escalated into a multi-sided civil war involving Christian, Muslim, Druze, and Palestinian forces, lasting until 1990.

In January 1976, under Frangieh's presidency, Lebanese Christian militias (with alleged support from the president's son, Tony Frangieh) attacked the Karantina district in Beirut, a slum inhabited by Palestinian refugees and Lebanese Muslims. The massacre killed an estimated 1,000-1,500 civilians, leading to retaliatory massacres by Palestinian forces at Damour and deepening the cycle of violence.

Suleiman Frangieh's presidential term ended in September 1976, but due to the civil war, he was unable to hand over power peacefully. He left Lebanon for exile in France, where he remained until his death in 1992. His presidency is widely regarded as a failure that contributed to the destruction of the Lebanese state.

Vital Kamerhe was appointed Chief of Staff to President Joseph Kabila after the 2006 elections. This position made him one of the most powerful figures in the government, overseeing the president's agenda and political strategy.

Kamerhe was elected President of the National Assembly, the third-highest position in the DRC. He served as a key ally of Kabila, but later broke with him over the 2008 Goma peace conference, which Kamerhe opposed.

Kamerhe resigned as President of the National Assembly after falling out with Kabila over the government's handling of the conflict in eastern DRC. He accused Kabila of negotiating with armed groups and violating the constitution, moving into opposition.

Kamerhe ran as a presidential candidate in the 2011 election, finishing third with about 7.7% of the vote. He alleged fraud in the election, which was won by Kabila, and his campaign highlighted the fragmentation of the opposition.

Kamerhe was convicted of embezzling public funds intended for a road construction project and sentenced to 20 years of penal servitude. The case was seen as a test of Tshisekedi's anti-corruption drive, but also criticized as politically motivated.

Kamerhe was released from prison after an appeals court reduced his sentence and he was granted provisional release. His release was controversial, with critics alleging political interference, while supporters saw it as a correction of a flawed verdict.