Charles Taylor vs Yoshiro Mori

Charles Taylor formed the NPFL in Ivory Coast and launched an invasion into Liberia, beginning the First Liberian Civil War. The NPFL quickly gained control of much of the country, challenging Samuel Doe's government.

Taylor won the 1997 Liberian general election with 75% of the vote, running on a platform of peace and reconciliation. The election was held after the end of the First Civil War, but Taylor's victory was widely seen as a choice between him and a return to war.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) indicted Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in supporting the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone's civil war. The indictment marked the first time a sitting African head of state was charged with such crimes.

Under international pressure and facing a rebel siege of Monrovia, Taylor resigned the presidency and went into exile in Nigeria. His departure ended the Second Liberian Civil War and allowed for a peace agreement.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone convicted Taylor of 11 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison, the first former head of state convicted since Nuremberg.

Mori made a series of controversial public statements, including calling Japan a 'divine nation centered on the emperor' and referring to the U.S. as a 'country of black people.' These gaffes damaged his approval ratings and drew international criticism.

Mori resigned as Prime Minister in April 2001 after his approval ratings fell below 10%. His resignation was prompted by a no-confidence motion and internal LDP pressure, paving the way for Junichiro Koizumi's premiership.

Mori was appointed president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee. He oversaw early preparations but resigned in 2021 after making sexist remarks about women on committees, sparking global backlash.

Mori resigned as Tokyo 2020 Olympics chief after stating that meetings with women 'take too long' because they talk too much. The remarks caused international outrage, damaged Japan's image, and forced his resignation weeks before the Games.