Akhtar Mansour vs Sahle-Work Zewde

Akhtar Mansour was appointed leader of the Taliban in 2015 after the death of Mullah Omar was confirmed. He assumed leadership during a period of internal division, with some factions opposing his appointment, and sought to unify the insurgency.

Akhtar Mansour oversaw initial peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government in 2015. The talks, held in Pakistan, were preliminary and did not lead to a ceasefire, but they marked a shift toward political engagement.

Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strike in Balochistan, Pakistan, on May 21, 2016. The strike targeted his vehicle, and his death was a significant blow to the Taliban leadership, leading to the appointment of Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Sahle-Work was appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative to the African Union. This role recognized her diplomatic experience, having previously served as Ethiopian ambassador to several countries.

Sahle-Work became the first woman to head the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). She managed the UN's operations in Kenya, overseeing administrative and conference services for UN agencies in the region.

Sahle-Work Zewde was elected by the Ethiopian parliament as the country's first female president. A career diplomat, her election was part of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's reforms to promote gender equality in government, though the presidency is largely ceremonial.