On May 29, 2025, Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah was elected president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina. Tah, 60, secured 76.18% of votes from the bank’s 81 member countries and 72.37% from its 54 African nations in just three rounds, outperforming Zambia’s Samuel Munzele Maimbo (20.26%) and Senegal’s Amadou Hott (3.55%).
Who is Sidi Ould Tah?
Born in 1964 in Mederdra, Mauritania, Tah holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Nice-Sophia-Antipolis, advanced degrees from the University of Paris VII and Nouakchott, and executive education from Harvard and London Business School. His 35-year career began in 1984 at the Mauritanian Bank for Development and Commerce, followed by roles as a financial analyst and advisor in Mauritania’s government. From 2008 to 2015, he served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economy and Finance, representing the country at the AfDB, World Bank, and other institutions. From 2015 to April 2025, Tah led the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), quadrupling its balance sheet, securing a AA+/AAA credit rating, and launching a $1 billion callable capital program for African multilateral banks.
Path to AfDB Presidency
Tah’s election followed a 12- to 18-month campaign led by Frannie Léautier, former vice-president of the AfDB and World Bank. Leveraging Mauritania’s diplomatic networks and Saudi Arabia’s influence, he gained support from Arab League states and secured a historic majority. His platform emphasized agility in project approvals, mobilizing domestic resources like pension funds, and fostering partnerships with Gulf states. Tah’s transformation of BADEA, where he increased annual approvals twelvefold and reduced non-performing loans to 0.5%, bolstered his candidacy.
Tah’s Vision and Challenges
Tah aims to strengthen regional financial institutions, promote Africa’s financial independence, leverage population growth for development, and build climate-resilient infrastructure. His presidency begins amid a $555 million US funding cut under the Trump administration, challenging the AfDB’s support for low-income countries.
Adesina’s Legacy
Adesina, speaking at the AfDB’s annual meetings in Abidjan, highlighted his decade-long impact, with the bank’s capital growing from $93 billion to $318 billion and $59 billion disbursed, benefiting 565 million people. Key projects include Egypt’s Gabal El Asfar wastewater plant, a Senegal-Gambia bridge, Togo’s Lome port expansion, and sanitation and electricity initiatives in Lesotho and Kenya.
Looking Ahead
Founded in 1964, the AfDB, funded by member subscriptions, loans, and repayments, is a cornerstone of African development. Tah inherits Adesina’s five priorities—lighting up, feeding, industrializing, integrating, and improving quality of life in Africa—while navigating a turbulent global economic landscape. With his experience bridging African and Arab finance, Tah is poised to lead the AfDB toward greater resilience and impact.
Source: AFP
