Hailemariam Desalegn vs Salvador Sanchez Ceren

Hailemariam Desalegn was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. As a southerner and engineer, his appointment signaled the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front's effort to broaden regional representation.

Following the death of long-serving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Hailemariam Desalegn succeeded him as Prime Minister. He became the first Ethiopian leader from the southern region, but faced challenges in consolidating power within the EPRDF coalition.

Hailemariam resigned as Prime Minister in February 2018 after widespread anti-government protests and a state of emergency. His resignation was seen as an attempt to pave the way for political reforms, leading to the appointment of Abiy Ahmed as his successor.

Salvador Sanchez Ceren joined the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) as a guerrilla commander during the Salvadoran Civil War. He rose to become a top military leader, known for his role in the urban and rural insurgency.

As a senior FMLN commander, Sanchez Ceren was one of the signatories of the Chapultepec Peace Accords, which ended the civil war. He then transitioned to politics, becoming a leader of the FMLN party.

Sanchez Ceren won the presidential election as the FMLN candidate, defeating Norman Quijano of ARENA. He became the second consecutive leftist president, continuing the policies of his predecessor Mauricio Funes.

Sanchez Ceren's government pursued a controversial gang truce with the MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs, which temporarily reduced homicides. However, the truce collapsed, and violence surged again, leading to criticism of his security strategy.

Sanchez Ceren continued social programs from the Funes era, including community health clinics, school feeding programs, and rural electrification. He also invested in infrastructure projects like roads and bridges.