Maak Juaija

The Reverend Maak Juaija
Senior Secretary Secretary in the President's Office
Incumbent
Assumed office August 25, 2022
President	Juu Kajusit
Preceded by	Maiki Saanisa
Secretary of the Department of International Affairs and Trade
Incumbent
Assumed office August 25, 2022
President	Juu Kajusit
Preceded by	Juu Kajusit
Secretary of the Department of Public Health, Children, and Family Services
In office February 16, 2019 – August 25, 2022
President	Taanut Paitan Juu Kajusit
Preceded by	Maiki Saanisa
Succeeded by	Liuri Aastii
Member of the National Congress
Incumbent
Assumed office July 13, 2005
Preceded by	Jirum Taarimi
Constituency	Kuiti 1
Personal details
Born	Maak Juaija (1968-07-09) July 9, 1968 Kaapsi, Mava
Political party	Mavean National Party
Spouse	Juutit Paagiitu (m. 2005)
Children	3
Alma mater	University of the Republic (BA)
Occupation	Politician priest

Maak Juaija (born July 9, 1968) is a Mavean politician who currently services as Senior Minister in the Mavean cabinet Secretary in the President's Office, acting as deputy to President Juu Kajusit. He was first elected to the National Congress in 2005, representing Kuiti's first constituency. Prior to this, he was the priest-in-charge of the parish of Laaian in Kuiti province.

Maak has held a number of senior positions in Congress and in the cabinet. He served as a member of the Congressional Committee on Communities and Faith from 2005 to 2010 and later as chair of the committee from 2010 to 2015. In 2019, President Taanut Paitan appointed him secretary of the Department of Public Health, Children, and Family Services; in 2022, he was promoted to lead the Department of International Affairs and Trade under President Juu Kajusit. At the same time, Juu appointed him Senior Secretary and Secretary in the President's Office (de facto vice president).

In January 2025, Maak became interim president when President Juu was hospitalised for an undisclosed illness.

Early life and education

Maak was born in 1968 in Kaapsi (now Kuiti Province, Mava). He was educated at the Kiirvak Inalunali School and later sent to Atitlan to complete the final years of his education at a number of boarding schools. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology at the University of the Republic and a Diploma in Theological Studies from the Colegio Protestante de San Carlos Mártir.

See also

• President of Mava