David Kabua

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. 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. 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. and in 2014 he was made Minister of Internal Affairs in a cabinet reshuffle. He was once again elected in the 2015 Marshallese general election.

During the 2019 Marshallese general election 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 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 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 to his country, stating that his country could disappear.

On 3 January 2024 Hilda Heine took over the presidency from Kabua.

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. 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 until his death. They had three children.