ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire — Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected as the 9th President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). The announcement was made on May 29, 2025, during the Bank’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, following a competitive vote by the Board of Governors, which comprises finance and central bank leaders from the Bank’s 81 member countries.
Key Transition Dates
- Tah assumes office: September 1, 2025
- Outgoing President: Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (Nigeria) concludes 10-year tenure on August 31, 2025
About Sidi Ould Tah
- Born: 1964, Mederdra, Mauritania
- Education:
- PhD in Economics, University of Nice-Sophia-Antipolis, France
- Executive training: Harvard University and London Business School
- Career Highlights:
- Former Minister of Economic Affairs of Mauritania
- Director General, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA)
- Quadrupled balance sheet
- Secured AAA credit rating
Election Rivals Defeated
Tah was chosen over four other high-profile candidates:
- Amadou Hott (Senegal)
- Samuel Maimbo (Zambia)
- Abbas Mahamat Tolli (Chad)
- Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa)
Vision and Priorities
Tah’s platform focuses on:
- Mobilising private capital
- Integrating informal economies
- Accelerating infrastructure development
- Climate resilience
- Strengthening public-private partnerships
Role of the AfDB
Founded in 1964, the AfDB is a key driver of economic and social progress across Africa, financing vital projects in energy, agriculture, industry, and infrastructure. The Bank has expanded its reach by including non-African members since the 1980s, increasing its global influence and capital base.
Past Presidents of the AfDB
- Mamoun Beheiry (Sudan, 1964–1970)
- Abdelwahab Labidi (Tunisia, 1970–1976)
- Kwame Donkor Fordwor (Ghana, 1976–1979)
- Goodall Gondwe (Malawi, 1979–1980, interim)
- Willa Mung’Omba (Zambia, 1980–1985)
- Babacar N’Diaye (Senegal, 1985–1995)
- Omar Kabbaj (Morocco, 1995–2005)
- Donald Kaberuka (Rwanda, 2005–2015)
- Akinwumi A. Adesina (Nigeria, 2015–2025
