David Kabua (born May 26, 1951) is a Marshallese politician who has served as President of the Marshall Islands since 13 January 2020. He has represented Wotho Atoll in the Legislature of the Marshall Islands since 2008 and served terms as Minister of Health and Internal Affairs.

Early life

Kabua was born in Majuro in 1951 as the fourth child and second son of the first President of the Marshall Islands, Amata Kabua, and his wife, former First Lady Emlain Kabua. He was educated in Xavier High School in

Chuuk State Chuuk State (; also known as Truk) is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The other states are Kosrae State, Pohnpei State, and Yap State. It consists of several island groups: * Namoneas * Faichuuk * Hall Isla ...

, Federated States of Micronesia where he graduated in 1971 and later studied at the University of Hawaii. Kabua subsequently worked as teacher aide, student liaison officer and general manager of the Marshall Islands Development Authority. He was the consul general of the Marshall Islands in Orange County, California, United States, for four years. He also worked as a private business owner for a decade.

Political career

In the

2007 Marshallese general election General elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 19 November 2007. Campaign One of the election issues was whether to switch recognition from Taiwan to the China, with the opposition in favour of recognising China instead. However, Aelon Ke ...

Kabua was elected to the Legislature of the Marshall Islands for Wotho Atoll for the first time. He was re-elected in the

2011 Marshallese general election General elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 21 November 2011. The general election is held every four years. An estimated 36,000 Marshallese voted in the election. Final results were not known until after 5 December 2011, when overseas ...

. During his second term he served as Minister of Health from 2012 and 2013 and in 2014 he was made

Minister of Internal Affairs Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...

in a cabinet reshuffle. He was once again elected in the

2015 Marshallese general election General elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 16 November 2015. Electoral system The 33 members of the Legislature were elected in 19 single-member constituencies and five multi-member constituencies of between two and five seats. The vo ...

. He was Minister in Assistance to the President of Marshall Islands in the cabinet of

Casten Nemra Casten Ned Nemra (born July 29, 1971) is a Marshallese politician who was President of the Marshall Islands for 17 days in January 2016. He was elected by the Nitijeļā (Parliament) as President in January 2016, following the 2015 general elect ...

in January 2016. During the

2019 Marshallese general election General elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 18 November 2019. Opponents of President Hilda Heine won a majority of seats. Background The 2015 Marshallese general election, 2015 elections saw a significant defeat for the government of i ...

he was re-elected for Wotho Atoll with 120 votes. On 6 January 2020 Kabua was elected President of the Marshall Islands by the

national legislature This is a list of legislatures by country. A "legislature" is the generic name for the national parliaments and congresses that act as a plenary general assembly of representatives and that have the power to legislate. All entities included in ...

by a vote of 20–12 with one abstention. He succeeded Hilda Heine, who was seeking a second term, but lost in the first session vote. Kabua said that combating climate change, negotiating with the US regarding the extension of a funding arrangement that expires in 2024 and addressing the issue of Runit Dome as the top priorities of his presidency. Meaghan Tobin, writing for the ''

South China Morning Post The ''South China Morning Post'' (''SCMP''), with its Sunday edition, the ''Sunday Morning Post'', is a Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper owned by Alibaba Group. Founded in 1903 by Tse Tsan-tai and Alfred Cunningham, it has remained ...

'' described Kabua as a moderate politician who would continue the country's relationship with Taiwan. In September 2020, in the lead up to the 75th General Assembly of the United Nations Kabua wrote a public letter to '' The Guardian'' in which he warned about the

risks of climate change Climate risk refers to risk assessments based on formal analysis of the consequences, likelihoods and responses to the impacts of climate change and how societal constraints shape adaptation options. Common approaches to risk assessment and ris ...

to his country, stating that his country could disappear.

Cabinet

Kabua and his cabinet were sworn into office by Chief Justice Carl Ingram of the High Court of the Marshall Islands on 13 January 2020.

Personal life

Kabua is married to Ginger Kabua, together they have three children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kabua, David 1951 births Living people Children of presidents Health ministers of the Marshall Islands Interior ministers of the Marshall Islands Marshallese diplomats Members of the Legislature of the Marshall Islands Ministers in Assistance to the President of Marshall Islands People from Majuro Presidents of the Marshall Islands 21st-century Marshallese politicians