The election of Sidi Ould Tah as president of the African Development Bank marks a new chapter for the institution amid high hopes for Africa’s prosperity.
Mauritania’s former economy minister, Sidi Ould Tah, has been elected to take the helm of the African Development Bank (AfDB), succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina.
Tah now faces the challenge of steering the institution through a turbulent global economic climate, including the withdrawal of US funding.
Unlike his predecessor Adesina – who clinched the presidency after six rounds of voting in 2015 – Tah secured the prestigious role in just three rounds, capturing a commanding 76 percent of the vote.
Zambian economist Samuel Munzele Maimbo came a distant second with 20 percent, while Senegal’s Amadou Hott placed third with less than 4 percent.
To win, Tah needed to secure a majority vote from both the AfDB’s 81 member countries and its 54 African member states. He succeeded in both, garnering 72 percent of the African bloc’s support.
Expressing his gratitude, Tah said: “I thank Africa for the trust placed in me. I am fully aware of the responsibility and duty that come with this role.”
Runner-up Maimbo graciously congratulated his opponent, noting that the Bank’s governors had “chosen the leader they believe will best deliver the vision of the Africa we want at this pivotal moment.”
Tah brings a decade of experience as head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), a background that could prove invaluable in fostering closer ties between North Africa and sub-Saharan countries.
In his campaign, Tah pledged to strengthen regional financial institutions, boost Africa’s financial autonomy on the world stage, harness population growth for development, and invest in climate-resilient infrastructure.
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Focus on Africa’s future
Established in 1964, the AfDB is one of the world’s largest multilateral development banks, drawing its funding from member contributions, market-raised loans, and income from repayments.
Tah steps into the role amid significant global economic uncertainty, not least the decision by the United States – under US President Donald Trump – to halt $500 million in funding for AfDB projects supporting the continent’s low-income nations.
All five candidates vying for the top job had pledged to build on Adesina’s legacy and further strengthen the AfDB’s effectiveness.
Adesina’s leadership was defined by five key priorities: powering Africa, ensuring food security, driving industrialisation, promoting regional integration, and improving quality of life.
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“I am proud of the legacy we leave behind,” Adesina said in his farewell address. “We’ve built a world-class financial institution that will continue to elevate Africa’s position in a fast-evolving global development landscape.”
During his ten-year tenure, an impressive 565 million people benefited from AfDB-backed projects. These include Africa’s largest wastewater treatment facility – Gabal El Asfar in Egypt – alongside major infrastructure developments like the bridge linking Senegal and The Gambia, the expansion of Lomé port in Togo, sanitation projects in Lesotho, and improved electricity access in Kenya.
Under Adesina’s stewardship, the Bank’s capital base more than tripled – soaring from $93 billion in 2015 to an impressive $318 billion in 2025.
(With newswires)
