Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has just been elected as the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group during its Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. He secured 76.2% of the vote in the third round, surpassing the required majority from both regional and non-regional member countries.
Tah brings over 35 years of experience in African and international development finance. He served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance and, from 2015 to April 2025, led the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). Under his leadership, BADEA underwent significant transformation, quadrupling its balance sheet, achieving a AAA credit rating, and becoming one of Africa’s top-rated development finance institutions.
In his vision for the AfDB, Tah emphasizes mobilizing broader capital, reforming financial systems, formalizing Africa’s informal sector, and building climate-resilient infrastructure. He advocates for partnerships with the private sector and other institutions to amplify the Bank’s impact.
Tah will assume office on September 1, 2025, succeeding Nigeria’s Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who served two terms from 2015 to 2025.
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