Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire — May 29, 2025
Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected as the new President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), following a highly anticipated vote at the Bank’s Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Tah succeeds Dr. Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria and becomes the ninth head of the institution since its founding in 1964.
A Decisive Mandate
Tah’s election was confirmed by the AfDB’s Board of Governors—comprising Finance and Economy Ministers, as well as Central Bank Governors from the Bank’s 81 member countries. To secure the presidency, a candidate must receive at least 50.01% of the votes from both regional (African) and non-regional member countries.
The final results were announced by Nialé Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development and Chair of the Board of Governors.
Proven Leadership in African Development
With more than 35 years of experience in African and international finance, Sidi Ould Tah brings a wealth of expertise to the role. He has served as President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) since 2015. Under his leadership, BADEA underwent a complete transformation—quadrupling its balance sheet, achieving a coveted AAA credit rating, and establishing itself as one of the continent’s top-performing development finance institutions.
A former Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance of Mauritania, Tah has held senior roles in multilateral institutions and is known for his work in crisis response, financial reform, and resource mobilization for African economies.
“Let’s Get to Work”
Speaking shortly after the announcement, Tah addressed the Board of Governors and members of the media with a succinct but powerful message:
“Let’s go to work now. I’m ready!”
The Candidates and the Selection Process
The Steering Committee of the Board of Governors received and approved five candidates by the nomination deadline of January 31, 2025. The final list of candidates, announced on February 21, included:
- Amadou Hott (Senegal)
- Samuel Maimbo (Zambia)
- Mahamat Abbas Tolli (Chad)
- Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa)
- Sidi Ould Tah (Mauritania)
Tah will officially assume office on September 1, 2025, for a five-year term, following the end of Dr. Adesina’s tenure.
Past Presidents of the African Development Bank Group
Since its inception, the AfDB has been led by distinguished African economists and policymakers:
- Mamoun Beheiry (Sudan) – 1964–1970
- Abdelwahab Labidi (Tunisia) – 1970–1976
- Kwame Donkor Fordwor (Ghana) – 1976–1980
- Willa Mung’Omba (Zambia) – 1980–1985
- Babacar N’diaye (Senegal) – 1985–1995
- Omar Kabbaj (Morocco) – 1995–2005
- Donald Kaberuka (Rwanda) – 2005–2015
- Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (Nigeria) – 2015–2025
A Pivotal Moment for Africa
Tah takes the helm at a critical time in Africa’s development journey. Despite enduring climate shocks, economic volatility, and shifting geopolitical tides, the continent continues to demonstrate resilience. However, it must accelerate progress to meet the goals of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—goals the Bank has encapsulated in its strategic High 5s priorities.
The 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group, held under the theme “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development,” have convened global leaders, policymakers, and financiers to explore strategies for mobilizing domestic and international capital for Africa’s growth.
About the African Development Bank Group
The African Development Bank Group consists of three entities:
- African Development Bank (AfDB)
- African Development Fund (ADF)
- Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF)
Its shareholders include 54 African countries (regional members) and 27 non-African countries (non-regional members), making it a unique and powerful multilateral development institution with a global reach and an African focus.
For more updates on leadership, finance, and development across Africa, stay tuned to our blog.
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