Mauritanian economist Dr. Sidi Ould Tah has been elected as the new President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina, who led the institution for 10 years. The election took place during the AfDB’s annual meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where Dr. Tah secured 76% of the vote in the third round, defeating other prominent candidates including Zambia’s Samuel Maimbo and Senegal’s Amadou Hott.
Dr. Tah brings nearly four decades of experience in development finance, public administration, and economic planning. He earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis in France. His previous roles include serving as Mauritania’s Minister of Economy and Finance and holding senior positions at the Islamic Development Bank. Since 2015, he has been the Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he led a major transformation. Under his leadership, BADEA launched an $18.375 billion development plan focused on infrastructure, trade finance, and sustainable growth.
Dr. Tah takes the helm at a challenging time for the AfDB. The bank is facing a $555 million funding cut from the United States and must mobilise over $400 billion annually to meet Africa’s development needs. He is expected to strengthen partnerships with Gulf nations, improve infrastructure financing, and address issues like debt burden, climate financing, and limited fiscal capacity across the continent.
As president, Dr. Tah’s priorities include deepening regional integration, boosting financial inclusion, and accelerating structural transformation in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. His leadership marks a significant shift for the AfDB, as it navigates mounting development challenges and seeks to play a greater role in Africa’s economic resurgence.
