Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected the ninth President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), securing a five-year term at the helm of one of Africa’s leading financial institutions. He will formally assume office on 1 September, succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina.
The announcement was made on Thursday by Nialé Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development and Chair of the Bank’s Board of Governors, during the closing session of the AfDB’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan.
In a post on its official X account, formerly Twitter, the Bank confirmed Dr Tah’s election, stating, “Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania was elected President of the African Development Bank Group today at the institution’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.”
Dr Tah secured a commanding 76.18% of total votes and 72.37% of regional member votes in the third round of balloting—well above the minimum 50.01% threshold required from both regional and non-regional members. He defeated four other candidates: Samuel Maimbo of Zambia, Amadou Hott of Senegal, Mahamat Abbas Tolli of Chad, and South Africa’s Swazi Tshabalala.
Chad’s candidate was eliminated in the first round with just 0.52% of the vote. In the second round, Tshabalala, South Africa’s nominee, was dropped after garnering 5.9%, close to her country’s voting share within the institution.
A seasoned development economist
A veteran economist with more than 35 years of experience in African and international finance, Dr Tah brings an impressive track record to the role. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, a master’s degree from Paris Diderot University, and a bachelor’s from the University of Nouakchott in Mauritania.
Until April this year, he led the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) for a decade, overseeing a tenfold increase in annual approvals and an eightfold rise in disbursements. During his tenure, BADEA underwent a 376% capital increase and was repositioned as a key player in infrastructure development, SME financing, digital platforms, and support to fragile states.
Under Dr Tah’s leadership, BADEA also earned an AA+ long-term credit rating upgrade from S&P Global, just weeks before the AfDB vote.
Earlier in his career, Dr Tah served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, and his campaign for the AfDB presidency was steered by Frannie Léautier, a former vice president at both the AfDB and the World Bank.
An agenda for transformation
Running on a platform of structural transformation, Dr Tah pledged to reform Africa’s financial systems, unlock the continent’s demographic dividend, promote industrialisation tied to resource development, and mobilise large-scale capital for development priorities.
“It’s time to get to work. I’m ready,” he said in a brief but pointed acceptance speech in Abidjan, thanking shareholders for the strong mandate.
His election comes at a pivotal moment for the Bank Group, which was established more than 60 years ago and now faces the dual challenge of accelerating development and navigating geopolitical volatility, climate pressures, and economic shocks. The AfDB has played a central role in supporting the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, summarised in its “High 5s” strategy.
This year’s Annual Meetings, held from 26 to 30 May in Abidjan, are focused on the theme: “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development.”
Continental support and expectations
Congratulating Dr Tah, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, described his election as a “testament to his exceptional leadership and steadfast commitment” to the continent’s development agenda.
The African Development Bank Group consists of three arms: the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, and the Nigeria Trust Fund. Its membership includes 54 regional (African) countries and 27 non-regional partners.
Dr Tah will take over at a time when many member states are seeking stronger partnerships to close the continent’s financing gaps and ensure long-term economic resilience. The scale of the challenges—and opportunities—ahead is immense. For the new president, the work begins now.
