Mauritania’s Sidi Tah elected new AfDB President

Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah has been elected as the ninth president of the African Development Bank Group (AFDB), marking a significant milestone for the institution.

His election was announced on the website of the AfDB on Thursday.

He will assume office on September 1, 2025, taking over from Dr Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, whose 10-year tenure ends this year.

Tah emerged winner after rounds of voting conducted by the AfDB Board of Governors during the Bank’s Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The Board comprises finance ministers and central bank governors from the Bank’s 81 member countries.

He defeated four other contenders, including Amadou Hott of Senegal, Zambia’s Samuel Maimbo, Abbas Mahamat Tolli of Chad, and Swazi Tshabalala of South Africa.

Born in Mederdra, Mauritania in 1964, Tah holds a doctorate in Economics from the University of Nice-Sophia-Antipolis, France.

He has also undergone executive training at Harvard University and the London Business School.

He previously served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and later as Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa.

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During his tenure at BADEA, the bank’s balance sheet quadrupled and it secured a AAA credit rating.

Tah’s campaign focused on mobilising private capital, integrating the informal sector into the formal economy, and improving Africa’s infrastructure to boost growth.

He also pledged to deepen partnerships with the private sector and enhance the Bank’s response to climate change.

The African Development Bank plays a key role in financing infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and industrial projects across the continent.

Tah’s election comes at a time when the continent is grappling with multiple challenges, including high debt levels, limited fiscal space, and the effects of climate change.

His election is expected to bring fresh perspectives and drive new initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable economic development and regional integration across Africa.