Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah Elected New President of AfDB

Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected as the ninth President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina, whose decade-long tenure ends this September.

The announcement was made following a high-stakes vote by the AfDB’s Board of Governors held earlier today in Abidjan.

Tah emerged victorious from a competitive pool of five distinguished candidates representing various regions of the continent.

The other contenders for the prestigious position were:

Amadou Hott of Senegal, former Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation.

Samuel Munzele Maimbo of Zambia, a senior official at the World Bank.

Mahamat Abbas Tolli of Chad, Governor of the Bank of Central African States.

Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala of South Africa, the current Senior Vice President of the AfDB.

Tah, currently serving as Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), brings a wealth of experience in development finance, agricultural policy, and strategic partnerships.

His election signals a new chapter for the Bank as it seeks to deepen its impact on sustainable development, infrastructure financing, and economic integration across Africa.

Tah is expected to officially assume office in September 2025. His presidency comes at a crucial time for the continent, with many African economies navigating the challenges of post-pandemic recovery, climate resilience, and increased calls for economic transformation.

Reactions from African leaders, international financial institutions, and development partners are already pouring in, hailing Tah’s election as a “vote of confidence” in regional leadership and inclusive growth.

More updates to follow as this story develops.