Keypoints:
- Sidi Ould Tah elected AfDB president
- Brings 35+ years in African finance
- To assume office in September 2025
SIDI Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, emerging as the preferred candidate among five contenders during the institution’s 2025 Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
The result was officially announced by Niale Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development and Chairperson of the AfDB Board of Governors. The Board—comprising finance ministers and central bank governors from the Bank’s 81 regional and non-regional member states—is the highest decision-making authority of the Bank Group.
Tah is set to take office on September 1, 2025 for a five-year term, succeeding Dr Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, who has served as AfDB President since 2015.
Veteran of African finance takes the helm
Tah brings to the role more than 35 years of experience in African and global finance. He most recently served as President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) for a decade. During his tenure, BADEA underwent a comprehensive transformation, with its balance sheet quadrupling, its credit rating upgraded to AAA, and its standing elevated to one of the continent’s most respected development banks.
A former Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance in Mauritania, Tah has held various senior roles in multilateral financial institutions, leading efforts in crisis response, resource mobilisation, and institutional reform. Notably, he spearheaded the establishment of BADEA’s $1bn callable capital facility to support African development banks.
Election underscores AfDB’s pivotal role
Tah’s election comes at a critical juncture for the African Development Bank, as it works to accelerate progress on the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The AfDB’s strategic focus—summarised in its High 5s priorities—continues to shape infrastructure development, regional integration, and inclusive growth across the continent.
This year’s election followed a rigorous selection process. The Board of Governors Steering Committee approved five candidates by the 31 January 2025 deadline, officially announcing the shortlist on 21 February. Alongside Tah, the other contenders were:
- Amadou Hott (Senegal)
- Samuel Maimbo (Zambia)
- Mahamat Abbas Tolli (Chad)
- Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa)
Under AfDB rules, a winning candidate must secure at least 50.01 percent of both the regional and non-regional member votes.
A legacy of leadership
Tah will become the ninth person to lead the Bank since its founding in 1964. The institution’s past presidents are:
- 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
The 2025 Annual Meetings, held from May 26 to 30 in Abidjan, took place under the theme ‘Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development’.
The African Development Bank Group comprises three entities: the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, and the Nigeria Trust Fund. Its shareholders include 54 African nations and 27 non-regional countries.
