Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow vs Raila Odinga

Berdimuhamedow reversed Niyazov's closure of the Turkmen Academy of Sciences, reopening the institution. This was part of a broader effort to restore some educational and scientific institutions that had been dismantled under his predecessor.

Following the death of President Saparmurat Niyazov, Berdimuhamedow won the presidential election with 89% of the vote. He succeeded Niyazov as the second president of independent Turkmenistan, inheriting a highly authoritarian system.

Berdimuhamedow presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the TAPI pipeline in Mary, Turkmenistan. The project aimed to export Turkmen natural gas to South Asia, but faced security and financing challenges, with construction repeatedly delayed.

Berdimuhamedow awarded himself the title 'Hero of Turkmenistan' for the third time, along with other state honors. This was part of an ongoing personality cult that included statues, official songs, and renaming of places after him.

Berdimuhamedow resigned as president, triggering a snap election won by his son Serdar. He then became Chairman of the People's Council (Halk Maslahaty), a newly empowered body that retained him as the 'national leader' with significant influence over policy.

Raila Odinga was released from detention after being held without trial for his involvement in the 1982 coup attempt. He returned to opposition politics, joining the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD) and becoming a key figure in the pro-democracy movement against President Daniel arap Moi's regime.

Raila Odinga led the 'Orange' side in the 2005 constitutional referendum, opposing President Mwai Kibaki's proposed constitution. The 'No' vote won decisively, leading to the formation of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party. This positioned Odinga as the main opposition leader for the 2007 election.

Raila Odinga ran for president against incumbent Mwai Kibaki. The election results were disputed, with Odinga alleging fraud. The controversy sparked widespread ethnic violence across Kenya, resulting in over 1,000 deaths and 600,000 displaced. A power-sharing agreement later made Odinga Prime Minister.

Raila Odinga was sworn in as Prime Minister of Kenya under a coalition government brokered by Kofi Annan. The position was created as part of the National Accord to end the post-election crisis. Odinga served as Prime Minister until 2013, overseeing a period of constitutional reform and economic recovery.

Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta publicly shook hands, ending a period of political tension following the disputed 2017 election. This 'Handshake' led to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), a constitutional reform process aimed at addressing ethnic divisions and governance issues. The initiative was later rejected by the courts.