Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected the ninth President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), following a decisive vote at the Bank’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan. Tah secured the position after receiving 76.18% of the vote in the final round, surpassing the required threshold of 50.01% from both regional and non-regional member countries.
The election was overseen by the AfDB’s Board of Governors—the Bank Group’s highest decision-making body—comprising finance ministers, economy ministers, and central bank governors from its 81 member countries. The result was officially announced by Nialé Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development and current Chair of the Board of Governors.
Tah, a Mauritanian national, brings more than 35 years of experience in international development finance. He previously served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance and, most recently, as President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) from 2015 to 2025. During his tenure at BADEA, he spearheaded institutional reforms that quadrupled the Bank’s balance sheet, earned it a AAA credit rating, and positioned it among Africa’s top-rated development banks.
In the final vote, Tah outpaced Zambia’s Samuel Maimbo (20.26%) and Senegal’s Amadou Hott (3.55%). Chad’s Mahamat Abbas Tolli and South Africa’s Swazi Tshabalala were eliminated in earlier rounds with 0.88% and 5.9% of the vote, respectively. Tah gained significant momentum by the second round, winning over two-thirds of the votes from African shareholders.
This year’s election process stood in contrast to the 2015 vote that saw outgoing President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina win after six rounds. Adesina, who served two five-year terms, will officially hand over leadership on 1 September 2025.
The five approved candidates, announced on 21 February 2025 following the nomination deadline of 31 January, were:
- Amadou Hott (Senegal)
- Samuel Maimbo (Zambia)
- Mahamat Abbas Tolli (Chad)
- Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa)
- Sidi Ould Tah (Mauritania)
Tah’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the continent, as the Bank faces the urgent task of accelerating development amid climate shocks, economic volatility, and a shifting global order. The new president is expected to drive forward the Bank’s strategic agenda, including the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, encapsulated in the AfDB’s “High 5” priorities.
The African Development Bank Group, founded in 1964, includes the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, and the Nigeria Trust Fund. It comprises 54 regional (African) member countries and 27 non-regional (non-African) shareholders.
Past Presidents of the African Development Bank Group:
- Mamoun Beheiry (Sudan), 1964–1970
- Abdelwahab Labidi (Tunisia), 1970–1976
- Kwame Donkor Fordwor (Ghana), 1976–1980
- Willa Mung’Omba (Zambia), 1980–1985
- Babacar N’diaye (Senegal), 1985–1995
- Omar Kabbaj (Morocco), 1995–2005
- Donald Kaberuka (Rwanda), 2005–2015
- Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (Nigeria), 2015–2025
This year’s Annual Meetings, held from 26 to 30 May in Abidjan, carry the theme “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development.” The meetings highlight the growing need to mobilize private and public capital more effectively to address Africa’s infrastructure, health, and economic challenges.
