Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, following a vote by the institution’s Board of Governors during its Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Board, made up of Finance and Economy Ministers or Central Bank Governors from the Bank’s 81 regional and non-regional member countries, represents the highest decision-making body within the institution.
The announcement was made by Niale Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development and current Chair of the Board of Governors. Under the Bank’s rules, a winning candidate must secure a minimum of 50.01% of both regional and non-regional votes to be elected.
Tah, a Mauritanian national, is a seasoned economist with over 35 years of experience across African and international financial institutions. He most recently served as President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) from 2015, where he led a decade of institutional transformation. Under his leadership, BADEA’s balance sheet quadrupled, the bank earned a AAA credit rating, and its positioning among Africa-focused development finance institutions significantly improved.
Prior to BADEA, Tah held senior roles in various multilateral institutions and served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance. His experience spans crisis management, financial sector reform, and resource mobilization, including the launch of BADEA’s $1 billion callable capital program for African multilateral development banks.
The selection process began with five candidates, whose nominations were confirmed by the 31 January 2025 deadline and publicly announced on 21 February 2025. Competing for the presidency alongside Tah were Amadou Hott of Senegal, Samuel Maimbo of Zambia, Mahamat Abbas Tolli of Chad, and Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala of South Africa.
Tah is expected to assume office on 1 September 2025 for a five-year term, succeeding Dr. Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, whose second term concludes this year. The transition marks the ninth presidency in the Bank’s history since its establishment in 1964.
The election occurs at a pivotal juncture for the Bank, as it reflects on six decades of operations amid economic volatility, climate pressures, and shifting global dynamics. With Africa’s development trajectory facing critical challenges, the institution continues to champion the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals through its flagship “High 5” strategic priorities.
This year’s Annual Meetings, held from 26 to 30 May under the theme “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development”, bring renewed focus to optimizing financial resources for the continent’s long-term growth. The African Development Bank Group is composed of three entities: the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, and the Nigeria Trust Fund. Its 81 member countries include 54 from Africa and 27 from other regions.
