ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire In a pivotal leadership transition, Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah has been elected as the new President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), marking the beginning of a new era for the continent’s premier financial institution. He will officially assume the role on September 1, 2025, taking over from Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina, who will conclude a decade-long tenure defined by ambitious reforms and transformative investments across Africa.
The announcement was made on Thursday, during the AfDB’s Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, where finance ministers, central bank governors, and economic leaders from the Bank’s 81 member countries convened to cast their votes. The AfDB’s Board of Governors its highest decision-making body oversaw the election process. Niale Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development and current Chair of the Board, officially announced the results.
To secure the presidency, candidates must obtain a majority of regional and non-regional member votes crossing the 50.01% threshold in both categories. Tah’s victory underscores broad consensus across Africa and its global partners on his vision for the Bank’s future.
With a distinguished career spanning more than 35 years in development finance, Tah brings deep expertise and proven leadership to the AfDB. Most recently, he served as President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he oversaw a strategic overhaul that quadrupled the institution’s balance sheet and earned it a AAA credit rating a rare feat among development banks.
Tah has also held key government roles, including Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance in Mauritania, where he championed innovative funding models and crisis-response frameworks to advance economic resilience and inclusive growth.
As he prepares to take the helm, stakeholders across the continent and beyond are watching closely, anticipating how Tah will shape the Bank’s next chapter amid evolving global challenges and Africa’s pursuit of sustainable development.
