The African Development Bank (AfDB) has elected a new president. Sidi Ould Tah from Mauritania emerged as the winner of the hotly contested election held during the Bank’s annual meetings in Abidjan on Thursday.
Tah takes over from Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture, who led the bank for two consecutive terms starting in 2015. Adesina’s decade-long tenure is widely acknowledged for major reforms and increased development financing across Africa.
Tah won by a landslide, securing 76.18% of the votes cast. His closest rival, Zambia’s Samuel Maimbo, got 20.26%, while Amadou Hott of Senegal received just 3.5%. According to AfDB rules, a candidate must secure at least 50.1% of both regional and non-regional member votes to win.
Nialé Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development and Chairperson of the AfDB Board of Governors, officially announced the results.
Tah brings over 35 years of experience in African and international finance. He served for 19 years as president of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he helped the institution secure an AAA credit rating and transformed its balance sheet. He is also a former Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance in Mauritania.
During his time at BADEA, Tah mobilised substantial funding for African development and built strong ties across global financial institutions.
The AfDB, established in 1964, is one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, comprising 81 members — 54 African countries and 27 non-African partners. It plays a major role in funding development projects across the continent.
Many observers believe Tah’s leadership will continue the work of his predecessor in driving investment, infrastructure, and economic reform in Africa.
His official swearing-in is expected in the coming weeks.
