Taneti Maamau

Taneti Maamau (born 16 September 1960) is an I-Kiribati politician who has served as the fifth president of Kiribati since 2016. A member of the Tobwaan Kiribati Party, his policies are targeted at strengthening Kiribati's weak economy and alleviating social issues. His government announced the Kiribati Vision for 20 Years (KV20), which plans to develop the tourism and fishing industries with aid from foreign investors.

Maamau's government stopped recognizing Taiwan in favour of closer ties with China, drawing concern from within his own party, the opposition and Western countries. He dismissed his predecessor's "Migration With Dignity" climate change policy. After his reelection in 2020, Maamau unveiled plans to combat rising sea levels by raising Kiribati's islands. This would be partly through dredging and supported by aid from foreign allies such as China. In 2022, Maamau's government was widely criticized for causing a constitutional crisis by suspending all superior court judges. He was re-elected in 2024 to serve a third and final term.