Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah Elected President of African Development Bank, Succeeding Nigeria’s Adesina

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has elected Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania as its new president, setting the stage for a new era at one of Africa’s most influential financial institutions.

Tah will officially assume office on September 1, 2025, becoming the 9th president of the Bank Group. He succeeds Nigerian economist Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who has led the institution since 2015 and is credited with driving major reforms and investments across the continent during his 10-year tenure.

The election results were announced by Niale Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development and Chair of the AfDB Board of Governors, which comprises finance ministers, economy ministers, and central bank governors from the Bank’s 81 regional and non-regional member countries.

According to the AfDB’s rules, a winning candidate must secure at least 50.01% of both regional and non-regional votes — a threshold Tah successfully crossed to clinch the top job.

Amadou Hott (Senegal), Samuel Maimbo (Zambia), Mahamat Abbas Tolli (Chad), Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa)

Tah brings to the role over 35 years of experience in African and global finance. Most notably, he served for a decade as President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). Under his leadership, BADEA underwent a significant transformation, quadrupling its balance sheet, earning a prestigious AAA credit rating, and establishing itself as a key player in African development finance.

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Before his tenure at BADEA, Tah held the position of Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance and has occupied senior roles in various multilateral institutions. His track record includes steering crisis responses, implementing financial reforms, and leading innovative financing initiatives, such as BADEA’s $1 billion callable capital program to strengthen African multilateral development banks.

His election signals continuity and innovation for the AfDB as it navigates complex development challenges, from climate change to digital transformation and economic resilience across Africa.