Taneti Maamau

Taneti Maamau was born on 16 September 1960. Hailing from Onotoa, Maamau attended the University of the South Pacific before taking a master's degree at the University of Queensland in Australia. In 2003, he completed his thesis on industrialization and trade policies in India.^[1]

In 1997, Maamau began public service as a Planning Officer with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. President Teburoro Tito made Maamau the ministry's permanent secretary in the mid-1990s, and Maamau went on to also be secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives.^[1][2]

In 2002, Maamau resigned from public service to join politics and won one of two seats for Onotoa in 2007. In 2011 and in 2015, he was re-elected a member of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu (parliament).^[3] Anote Tong served as president from 2003 to 2016. Maamau was part of the opposition.^[1]

After the 2015–16 parliamentary election, the United Coalition and Maurin Kiribati Parties combined to become the Tobwaan Kiribati Party. In February 2016, they endorsed Maamau as their candidate for the presidential election.^[1] He also received support from Tito.^[4] He won the election and was officially declared President after winning against the ruling party by nearly 60%. He began his first term on 11 March 2016.^[5][6]

Maamau's policies began to target the country's social issues.^[7] In an April 2016 parliamentary session, the government announced policy changes which would result in free education up to year 12 in the whole of the country. It established a committee to investigate corruption and abuse of office and gave a $1 million grant to the two major Christian churches.^[8]

Despite lack of sanitation, employment, and the rising cost of living in the capital of South Tarawa, many I-Kiribati from the outer islands migrate there. Maamau attempted to develop the coconut trade and manufacturing to reduce migration and poverty. In the same session, he doubled the copra subsidy, which ensures a guaranteed price for citizens selling copra to the government, from the $1 per kilo set by Tong. A journalist for Inside Climate News reported that consequently, on Abaiang, there is a smaller supply of coconuts. Copra cutters became fiercely competitive to the point of harvesting unripe crop. The subsidy accounted for 14% of the government's expected expenses.^[7][8]

Anote Tong's administration held the position that relocation was probably inevitable, due to climate change and rising sea levels. Tong spread awareness of the country's situation internationally. However, Maamau dismissed Tong's policy of "migration with dignity".^[9] While he does not deny climate change, Maamau follows the common belief that only divine will could destroy Kiribati.^[7]

At COP23 in 2017, Maamau said that "my government has decided to put aside the misleading and pessimistic scenario of a sinking nation."^[10] He presented a video describing his "Kiribati Vision for 20 Years", which includes investing in tourism and fisheries to pull Kiribati from poverty and raising land in Tarawa to build new homes. He asked for foreign aid in his plans.^[7] No climate change adaptation actions were taken between 2017 and 2019, when the government published the Kiribati Joint Implementation Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (KJIP).^[11]

In August 2018, he was installed as the Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific.^[1]

In September 2019, Maamau ended Kiribati's diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established diplomatic relations with China after Taiwan dismissed Maamau's request of "massive financial assistance to purchase commercial air planes".^[12] As a result, his governing party lost the majority in the 2020 parliamentary elections from 34 seats to 22.^[13] It was criticized by the first president, Ieremia Tabai, and other opposition members, who organized pro-Taiwan protests in Tarawa.^[14]

Maamau ran for re-election in the 2020 presidential election against former party member Banuera Berina of Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party.^[15] There were accusations of corruption by both sides.^[16] Berina had split with Maamau due to his pro-China policies;^[17] he promised to reverse the decision if elected.^[18] Taneti won the election by 59% of the vote and was officially sworn in for his second term on 24 June 2020.^[15]

In August, Maamau announced plans to elevate Kiribati's islands through dredging. He sought support from allies such as China for the projects, which he said would require billions of dollars, but said that he would maintain Kiribati's independence and not take out large loans from other countries. He also refuted American concerns that his government would allow a Chinese military base to be built on Kiritimati.^[10][16] Tong bought land in Fiji, which he stated I-Kiribati people could be moved to if rising sea levels rendered islands uninhabitable. There was speculation that Maamau would give or sell the estate to China. In February 2021, Maamau announced plans to develop it into a commercial farm, with China providing "technical assistance".^[19]

In October 2020, Maamau and four other Micronesian leaders threatened to withdraw their countries from the Pacific Islands Forum. A Polynesian candidate had been elected Secretary-General instead of their preferred Micronesian nominee, which they felt breached a "gentleman's agreement" to cycle the position through the various regions.^[20][21] Maamau withdrew Kiribati from the forum in July 2022.^[22] It was seen as a setback to Pacific regionalism as China increased its influence in the region, fueling geopolitical tension. In 2023, Kiribati rejoined the forum.^[23]

In the 2022 Kiribati constitutional crisis, the government's treatment of judges was condemned by judicial bodies.^[24] In September 2022, Maamau indefinitely suspended Australian-born judge David Lambourne. The opposition saw this as a punishment for his wife, their leader Tessie Lambourne. Maamau did the same of all three court of appeal judges and the chief justice after they ruled against Lambourne's deportation.^[25][26]

Kiribati had no COVID-19 cases for the first two years of the pandemic. On 22 January 2022, the government announced a lockdown after people on the first passenger fight in 10 months tested positive. It spread to Tarawa, where a freelance journalist told Time many were unhappy with the government for opening its borders while there was an outbreak in Fiji.^[27][28] Maamau's office implored citizens to get vaccinations.^[28] At the time, only 50% were fully vaccinated.^[27]

• Politics of Kiribati
• Cabinet of Kiribati
• List of current foreign ministers