In a significant leadership transition at one of Africa’s most influential financial institutions, Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected as the new President of the African Development Bank (AfDB). The announcement was made during the bank’s annual meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, marking the end of Akinwumi Adesina’s transformative 10-year tenure.
Tah’s appointment was confirmed by the AfDB’s Board of Governors — a high-level body composed of finance and economy ministers or central bank governors from the bank’s 81 member countries, spanning both regional and non-regional members. To win the presidency, a candidate must secure over 50.01% of votes from both regional and non-regional blocs.
Sidi Ould Tah is set to officially assume office as the 9th president of the AfDB on September 1, 2025.
This leadership change is pivotal for the continent’s development trajectory. Under Adesina’s decade-long stewardship, the AfDB significantly expanded its investment in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and youth employment across Africa. Now, all eyes are on Tah, whose impressive resume signals strong continuity and new momentum.
Tah brings over 35 years of experience in African and global finance. From 2015 to 2024, he served as the president of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he engineered a full-scale transformation of the institution. His leadership led to a quadrupling of the bank’s balance sheet and earned BADEA a prestigious AAA credit rating — placing it among the highest-rated development banks with a focus on Africa.
Prior to that, he was Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance and has held multiple senior roles in international financial organizations. His career has consistently focused on financial reform, crisis response, and mobilizing innovative funding solutions for African development projects.
During his time at BADEA, Tah spearheaded the creation of a $1 billion callable capital program tailored for African multilateral development banks — a move that highlighted his ability to blend strategic vision with practical finance innovation.
Tah’s election comes after a rigorous selection process. Other contenders included Amadou Hott (Senegal), Samuel Maimbo (Zambia), Mahamat Abbas Tolli (Chad), and Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa). The final list of approved candidates was released in February following a January 31 deadline.
As Adesina exits with accolades for his service, the baton now passes to a seasoned financier whose deep roots in African economic development promise continuity, resilience, and fresh opportunities. The continent waits with anticipation as Sidi Ould Tah prepares to take charge and steer the AfDB into a new era.
