Taneti Maamau

Taneti Maamau (modern spelling: Taaneti Mwamwau; born 16 September 1960 ) is an I-Kiribati politician who has served as the sixth president of Kiribati since 11 March 2016.

Political career
A member of Tobwaan Kiribati Party, he began his career in public service as a Planning Officer with the Ministry of Finance before becoming Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives.

In 2002, Maamau resigned from public service to join politics and won in 2007 one of the two seats for his constituency home island Onotoa. In 2011 and in 2015, he was re-elected a member of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu (parliament). He previously served as the Finance Secretary under President Teburoro Tito.

Maamau contested for the 2016 presidential election, where he was supported by a new coalition of the Tobwaan Kiribati Party. He received the support from former president Teburoro Tito, the predecessor of Anote Tong. 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.

In August 2018, he was installed as the Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific.

In September 2019, Maamau ended Kiribati's diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established diplomatic relations with China. The decision comes after Taiwan dismissed Maamau's request of "massive financial assistance to purchase commercial air planes". As a result, his governing party lost the majority in the 2020 parliamentary elections from 34 seats to 22.

He ran for re-election in the 2020 presidential election against former party member Banuera Berina of Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party. Taneti won the election by 59% of the vote and was officially sworn in for his second term on 24 June 2020.

In August 2020, Maamau announced his plans to seek support from China and other diplomatic allies to raise the islands of Kiribati. This is in response to the looming threat of sea level rise and climate change.

In October 2020, Maamau along with four other Micronesian leaders threatened to withdraw from the Pacific Islands Forum if their nominee is not chosen as Secretary-General adding that "Micronesia would remain resolute and united in its position to take the wheel of the Forum helm". He wrote a letter in July 2022 that Kiribati withdraws.