Nur Misuari vs Sakamoto Ryoma

Misuari established the MNLF to fight for Moro independence from the Philippines. The group launched an armed insurgency in Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago, and Palawan, leading to decades of conflict that killed over 100,000 people.

Under Misuari's leadership, the MNLF launched large-scale attacks on Philippine military positions in Mindanao. The insurgency peaked in the mid-1970s, with the MNLF controlling large areas of the countryside and engaging in conventional battles.

Misuari signed a peace agreement with the Marcos government in Tripoli, Libya, brokered by Muammar Gaddafi. The agreement promised autonomy for Muslim Mindanao but was never fully implemented, leading to renewed fighting.

After the Tripoli Agreement failed, Misuari went into exile in Libya and later Malaysia. From abroad, he continued to lead the MNLF, securing foreign support and training for his fighters. He returned to the Philippines in 1996 after a new peace deal.

Ryoma established a trading company in Nagasaki with the goal of modernizing Japan's economy and military. The company imported Western weapons and ships, and served as a base for anti-shogunate activities.

Ryoma mediated between the Satsuma and Choshu domains, which had been hostile to each other. Through his negotiations, the two domains agreed to cooperate against the Tokugawa shogunate, forming a key alliance that enabled the Meiji Restoration.

Ryoma drafted a political reform plan proposing a new government structure for Japan, including a bicameral legislature, a constitution, and the return of power to the imperial court. The plan influenced the Meiji government's early policies.

Ryoma was assassinated at the Omiya inn in Kyoto by agents of the shogunate. His death at age 31 cut short his political influence, but his ideas continued to shape the Meiji Restoration.