Sidi Ould Tah, a seasoned Mauritanian economist, has been elected as the ninth president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina. Tah secured 76.18% of the vote in a decisive three-round election held during the AfDB’s annual meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. His closest competitors were Zambia’s Samuel Maimbo and Senegal’s Amadou Hott.
With over 35 years of experience in African and international finance, Tah previously served as the president of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) from 2015 to 2025. Under his leadership, BADEA underwent a significant transformation, quadrupling its balance sheet and securing a AAA rating, positioning it among the top-rated development banks focused on Africa.
Tah’s appointment comes at a critical juncture for the AfDB, which is grappling with substantial funding challenges. The bank faces the potential loss of $555 million in U.S. funding to the African Development Fund (ADF), which supports over 30 of the continent’s poorest nations. This financial strain is compounded by Africa’s pressing development needs, with an estimated annual financing gap of over $400 billion required for structural transformation.
In response to these challenges, Tah has outlined a transformative agenda for the AfDB. He aims to reform Africa’s financial architecture, harness the continent’s demographic dividend, industrialize while sustainably managing natural resources, and unlock large-scale capital investment. Additionally, Tah is expected to prioritize the establishment of an African Financial Stability Mechanism, designed to help African economies withstand external shocks and reduce dependency.
Tah’s leadership is anticipated to focus on expanding the bank’s funding base through strategic partnerships, particularly with sovereign wealth funds and development finance institutions in the Gulf and Asia. His track record at BADEA, where he deepened ties with Gulf states, could prove advantageous in this endeavor. Furthermore, climate finance is expected to be a top priority, as the bank seeks to scale up investments in clean energy, water systems, and food security to address the continent’s environmental.
Tah will formally assume office on September 1, 2025, for a five-year term. His election marks a new chapter for the AfDB as it navigates the complex landscape of development financing and strives to meet the evolving needs of the African continent.
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