Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected as the ninth President of the African Development Bank Group during its Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The election was conducted by the Board of Governors, consisting of Finance and Economy Ministers and Central Bank Governors from the Bank’s 81 regional and non-regional member countries.
Tah, a seasoned financial expert with over 35 years of experience, previously led the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) for ten years, overseeing its transformation, quadrupling its balance sheet, and securing a AAA rating. He has also played a key role in financial reform and resource mobilization for Africa, including launching BADEA’s $1 billion callable capital program for African development banks.
The election process involved five candidates, with the final list announced in February 2025. Tah will take office on September 1, 2025, succeeding Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, for a five-year term.
His appointment comes at a pivotal time, as Africa navigates climate shocks, economic disruptions, and geopolitical shifts. The African Development Bank remains crucial in advancing the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals through initiatives like the Bank’s High 5 priorities.
The 2025 Annual Meetings, themed “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development,” which kicked off on May 26 will end on the 30 in Abidjan, reinforcing the Bank’s mission to drive sustainable growth.
