{{Short description|President of the Marshall Islands from 2020 to 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = David Kabua | honorific_prefix = The Honorable | image = File:President of the Marshall Islands David Kabua.jpg | office = 9th President of the Marshall Islands | term_start = 13 January 2020 | term_end = 3 January 2024 | predecessor = Hilda Heine | successor = Hilda Heine | office1 = 10th Minister in Assistance to the President | term_start1 = 11 January 2016 | term_end1 = 28 January 2016 | president1 = Casten Nemra | predecessor1 = Wilbur Heine | successor1 = Mattlan Zackhras | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1951|5|26|df=y}} | birth_place = Majuro, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands {{small|(now Marshall<br>Islands)}} | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|4|8|1951|5|26|df=y}} | death_place = Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. | party = Independent | spouse = Ginger Kabua<ref name="rnz">{{cite web|last=Johnson |first=Giff |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/407600/marshalls-president-kabua-s-inauguration-set-for-monday |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018060514/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/407600/marshalls-president-kabua-s-inauguration-set-for-monday |title=Marshalls' President Kabua's inauguration set for Monday |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=20 January 2020 |archive-date=18 October 2020}}</ref> | children = 3 | parents = {{plainlist| * Amata Kabua * Emlain Kabua }} | education = | caption = Kabua in 2021 }}
'''David Kabua''' (26 May 1951 – 8 April 2026) was a Marshallese politician who served as President of the Marshall Islands from 2020 to 2024. He 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 on 26 May 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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mOw7zK9hHLoC&q=David+Kabua+born+1951&pg=PA75|title=Life in the Republic of the Marshall Islands|first1=Anono Lieom|last1=Loeak|first2=Veronica C.|last2=Kiluwe|first3=Linda|last3=Crowl|date=September 14, 2004|publisher=editorips@usp.ac.fj|isbn=9789820203648|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="opc">{{cite web|url=https://rmigov.info/?page_id=108 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101130633/https://rmigov.info/?page_id=108 |title=President |publisher=Office of the President and Cabinet |archive-date=1 November 2020}}</ref> Kabua graduated from Xavier High School in Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia in 1971, and later studied at the University of Hawaii in Manoa.<ref name="opc"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://rmiparliament.org/cms/members.html#1-president-of-the-republic-of-the-marshall-islands-his-excellency-president-david-kabua |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225103847/https://rmiparliament.org/cms/members.html#1-president-of-the-republic-of-the-marshall-islands-his-excellency-president-david-kabua |title=Members |publisher=Legislature of the Marshall Islands |archive-date=25 December 2019 |access-date=7 March 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref name="opc"/>
==Political career== In the 2007 Marshallese general election 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.<ref name="opc"/> During his second term he served as Minister of Health from 2012 and 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rmiembassyus.org/Government.htm|title=Presidential Cabinet|publisher=Rmiembassyus.org|access-date=2 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330065151/http://rmiembassyus.org/Government.htm|archive-date=30 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Inc.2013">{{cite book|last=Inc.|first=IBP|title=Marshall Islands Land Ownership and Agricultural Laws Handbook - Strategic Information and Basic Laws|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mfb_BgAAQBAJ&pg=PA22|date=4 April 2013|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-4387-5952-4|page=22}}</ref> and in 2014 he was made Minister of Internal Affairs in a cabinet reshuffle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfbmicronesia.com/articles/2014/3/19/kvfirs95parxwb0qjiahic2p4552tp|title=Marshall Islands - Marshall Islands President Christopher Loeak has defeated a second vote of no confidence last Tuesday, by a vote of 17-13|publisher=Tfbmicronesia.com|date=19 March 2014|access-date=2 June 2015}}</ref> He was once again elected in the 2015 Marshallese general election.<ref name="opc"/> He was Minister in Assistance to the President of Marshall Islands in the cabinet of Casten Nemra in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=President Resigns After Vote |url=https://www.infomarshallislands.com/marshall-islands-new-president/ |website=www.infomarshallislands.com | date= 26 January 2016}}</ref>
During the 2019 Marshallese general election he was re-elected for Wotho Atoll with 120 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infomarshallislands.com/saturday-rmi-election-results/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913004517/https://www.infomarshallislands.com/saturday-rmi-election-results/ |title=RMI Final Election Results |publisher=Marshall Islands Guide |date=24 September 2019 |archive-date=13 September 2020}}</ref> On 6 January 2020 Kabua was elected President of the Marshall Islands by the national legislature 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=New president for Marshall Islands|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/406763/new-president-for-marshall-islands|date=6 January 2020|access-date=6 January 2020|publisher=Radio New Zealand}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marshalls' president-elect anticipating challenging term|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/406813/marshalls-president-elect-anticipating-challenging-term|date=6 January 2020|access-date=6 January 2020|publisher=Radio New Zealand}}</ref> Meaghan Tobin, writing for the ''South China Morning Post'' described Kabua as a moderate politician who would continue the country's relationship with Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tobin |first=Meaghan |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3044910/marshall-islands-one-taiwans-few-allies-announces-moderate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608133027/https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3044910/marshall-islands-one-taiwans-few-allies-announces-moderate |title=Marshall Islands' new president David Kabua likely to keep diplomatic ties with Taiwan |publisher=South China Morning Post |date=6 January 2020 |archive-date=8 June 2020}}</ref>
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 to his country, stating that his country could disappear.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/21/the-climate-crisis-will-sweep-away-my-country-if-the-world-doesnt-keep-its-promises |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028150146/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/21/the-climate-crisis-will-sweep-away-my-country-if-the-world-doesnt-keep-its-promises |title=The climate crisis will sweep away my country if the world doesn't keep its promises |work=The Guardian |date=20 September 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2020}}</ref>
On 3 January 2024 Hilda Heine took over the presidency from Kabua.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/505980/hilda-heine-sworn-in-as-president-of-the-marshall-islands |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104002558/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/505980/hilda-heine-sworn-in-as-president-of-the-marshall-islands |publisher=Radio New Zealand |title=Hilda Heine sworn-in as President of the Marshall Islands|date=3 January 2024 |archive-date=4 January 2024}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://marshallislandsjournal.com/new-rmi-leaders-sworn-in/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117183020/https://marshallislandsjournal.com/new-rmi-leaders-sworn-in/ |title=New RMI leaders sworn in |publisher=The Marshall Islands Journal |date=16 January 2020 |archive-date=17 January 2020}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Ministry ! Minister ! Period |- | Minister in Assistance to the President and of Environment | Christopher Loeak | 13 January 2020 |- | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade | Casten Nemra | 13 January 2020 |- | Minister of Health and Human Services | Bruce Bilimon | 13 January 2020 |- | Minister of Finance, Banking and Postal Service | Alfred Alfred Jr. | 13 January 2020 |- | Minister of Transportation, Communication and Information Technology | Donald Capelle | 13 January 2020 |- | Minister of Works, Infrastructure and Utilities | Jiba Kabua | 13 January 2020 |- | Minister of Justice, Immigration and Labor | Kessai Note | 13 January 2020 |- | Minister of Culture and Internal Affairs | Jemi Nashion | 13 January 2020 |- | Minister of Education, Sports and Training | Kitlang Kabua | 13 January 2020 |- | Minister of Natural Resources and Commerce | Sandy Alfred | 13 January 2020 |}
==Personal life and death== Kabua was married to Ginger Kabua up until his passing. Together, they had three children.<ref name="rnz">{{cite web|last=Johnson |first=Giff |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/407600/marshalls-president-kabua-s-inauguration-set-for-monday |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018060514/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/407600/marshalls-president-kabua-s-inauguration-set-for-monday |title=Marshalls' President Kabua's inauguration set for Monday |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=20 January 2020 |archive-date=18 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="opc"/>
Kabua died from cancer in Honolulu on 8 April 2026, at the age of 74.<ref>[https://www.kitv.com/news/former-president-of-the-marshall-islands-passes-away-in-honolulu/article_8818c0e3-4abe-4229-b3e6-1cfe419942e6.html Former President of the Marshall Islands passes away in Honolulu]</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{commons category}} {{wikiquote}} {{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Hilda Heine}} {{s-ttl|title=President of the Marshall Islands|years=2020–2024}} {{s-aft|after=Hilda Heine}} {{s-end}}
{{Presidents of the Marshall Islands}} {{Heads of state of republics}} {{Authority control}} {{Nitijela}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kabua, David}} Category:1951 births Category:2026 deaths Category:Children of presidents Category:Health ministers of the Marshall Islands Category:Interior ministers of the Marshall Islands Category:Marshallese diplomats Category:Members of the Legislature of the Marshall Islands Category:Ministers in assistance to the president of Marshall Islands Category:People from Majuro Category:Presidents of the Marshall Islands Category:21st-century Marshallese politicians