Breaking: African Development Bank gets a new president

Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania was elected president of the African Development Bank group (AFDB), following a decisive vote by the Bank’s Board of Directors during the annual meetings of the institution in Abidjan.

Tah will become the ninth president of the banking group, succeeding Dr. Akinwumi Adhesin of Nigeria, whose second term of five years will end in August 2025. Tah is expected to formally assume the assignment on September 1, 2025, for a five -year renewable mandate.

Its election was announced by Nial Kaba, by the Minister of Planning and Development of the Coast of Ivaire and President of the AFDB Board of Directors, after a rigorous vote process that involved financial and economic ministers or governors of the central and non -regional 81 regional countries of the bank. A candidate is required to guarantee at least 50.01% of the votes from both groups to be elected.

Tah leads to the role of three decades of vast experience in African and international finance. He worked as president of Arab Bank for economic development in Africa (Badea) from 2015 to April 2025. Under his leadership, Badea has undergone a large -scale transformation: he rejoiced his budget, ensuring a popular AAA evaluation and emerging as one of the most voted development banks dedicated to Africa.

He is also a former Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance of Mauritania and has held senior roles in different multilateral institutions. During his career, Tah guided initiatives focused on response to crises, financial reforms and mobilization of resources throughout the continent. In particular, he led the creation of the capital program that can be recalled from 1 billion dollars in Badea for African Banks of multilateral development (MDBS), aimed at strengthening regional financial capacity.

The Element Followed to Competitive Process, with Five Candidates approved by the Board of Governors Steering Committee as of Janogy 31, 2025. The Final List, Announced on febration 21, Included Amadou Hott (Senegal), Samuel Maimbo (Zambia), Mahamat Abbas Talli (Chad), Bajablile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa) and Sidi Ould Tah (Mauritania)