Christophe Gbenye vs Marcelo H. del Pilar

Gbenye became the political leader of the CNL, a coalition of leftist groups opposed to the central government. The CNL coordinated the Simba rebellion and sought to establish a revolutionary state in the Congo.

Gbenye's forces captured Stanleyville (Kisangani), the third-largest city in the Congo. He declared it the capital of a rival government, the People's Republic of the Congo, and established a radical leftist administration.

Belgian paratroopers, supported by US aircraft, landed in Stanleyville during Operation Dragon Rouge. Gbenye's forces were overwhelmed, and he fled the city, ending his control of the rebel capital.

During the siege of Stanleyville, Gbenye's regime executed hundreds of political opponents and foreign hostages. These atrocities drew international condemnation and prompted foreign military intervention.

After the rebellion's collapse, Gbenye went into exile in Sudan and later Uganda. He continued to claim leadership of the CNL but lost relevance as Mobutu's regime stabilized and other rebel factions dissolved.

Del Pilar established a mutual aid society in Manila that secretly functioned as a propaganda cell. The organization collected funds and distributed anti-friar literature, laying groundwork for the broader reform movement.

Del Pilar authored a satirical parody of Catholic prayers and catechism, mocking the hypocrisy of Spanish friars in the Philippines. The pamphlet was widely circulated and contributed to anti-clerical sentiment among Filipinos.

Facing arrest by Spanish authorities for his subversive writings, del Pilar fled to Spain. There he joined other Filipino expatriates in the Propaganda Movement, continuing his campaign for reforms through journalism and lobbying.

Del Pilar became editor of La Solidaridad, the primary newspaper of the Propaganda Movement in Barcelona, Spain. He used the paper to advocate for political reforms in the Philippines, including representation in the Spanish Cortes and secularization of parishes.

Del Pilar died of tuberculosis in Barcelona, impoverished and in exile. His death occurred as the Philippine Revolution was beginning, but his writings had already inspired the Katipunan and the nationalist movement.