James Marape

James Marape (born 24 April 1971) is a Papua New Guinean politician serving as the 8th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea since May 2019. He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the electorate of Tari-Pori Open in Hela Province in the highlands.

On 30 May 2019, he was nominated, elected, and sworn in as the eighth Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea by the National Parliament.

James Marape is a member and leader of the Huli people, one of the country's largest tribes and ethnic groups. Marape's father was a Seventh-day Adventist pastorand Marape identifies with the church as well.

Marape attended Minj Primary School and Kabiufa Adventist Secondary School in the PNG highlands. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Papua New Guinea in 1993, and a postgraduate Honours Degree in Environmental Science in 2000. He was Acting Assistant Secretary of Policy with the Department of Personnel Management from 2001 to 2006.

Marape is married to Rachael Marape, who is originally from East Sepik Province. The couple has six children.

Marape first contested the Tari-Pori seat at the 2002 election for the People's Progress Party, when voting in the Southern Highlands Province was cancelled due to widespread violence. He contested the supplementary election in 2003 but lost to incumbent MP Tom Tomiape in a contest marred by the bashing of a polling official by his supporters. He challenged the result in the Court of Disputed Returns, but both his initial petition and a subsequent appeal were rejected.

He contested the seat for a second time at the 2007 election as a National Alliance candidate and defeated Tomiape. He was subsequently appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Works, Transport and Civil Aviation by Prime Minister Michael Somare. He was also given additional responsibilities as Deputy Chair of the Privileges Committee and member of the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Inter-Government Relations. He was Minister for Education from 16 December 2008 to 2 August 2011. In February 2012, he left the National Alliance Party and joined the People's National Congress.

He was re-elected at the 2012 election in the Tari-Pori District. He was then appointed as Finance Minister under the O’Neill Government.

He was re-elected at the 2017 election, representing People's National Congress.

On 11 April 2019, he resigned as Minister for Finance but remained a member of People's National Congress and the Government. However, he resigned from the party on 29 April 2019. Sam Basil was appointed as Minister for Finance on 18 April 2019.

Earlier in May 2019, Marape was named as a potential candidate in the alternative government for replacing Peter O'Neill as prime minister. Peter O'Neill resigned on May 29. Marape was then elected as Prime Minister on 30 May 2019 and was sworn in later that day.

On being sworn in, Marape said he wants PNG to be "the richest black Christian nation" in the world.