By: Saidu Jalloh
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has elected Mauritanian economist Sidi Ould Tah as its ninth president, marking a pivotal moment in the institution’s 60-year history. Tah secured 76.18% of the vote during the Bank’s annual meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, defeating other contenders including Zambia’s Samuel Maimbo and Senegal’s Amadou Hott.
At 60 years old, Tah brings extensive experience to the role, having previously served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Development and as Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). He is set to officially assume office on September 1, 2025, succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina. During Adesina’s decade-long tenure, the AfDB’s capital increased from $93 billion to \$318 billion, alongside substantial investments in infrastructure and development initiatives across Africa.
In his acceptance speech, Tah emphasized the urgent need for innovative financial strategies to address the continent’s persistent challenges, including infrastructure deficits, climate change, and economic instability. He outlined plans to enhance partnerships with Gulf states to support infrastructure development throughout Africa.
Tah also highlighted the importance of developing carbon markets to unlock new sources of financing and to strengthen the continent’s economic resilience in the face of growing climate risks.
His presidency begins amid notable challenges, including a \$555 million funding cut to the African Development Fund (ADF) by the U.S. under the Trump administration. The ADF supports over 30 of the continent’s poorest countries. Meanwhile, the AfDB estimates that Africa requires over \$400 billion annually to fund its structural transformation and is targeting \$25 billion in its current replenishment round.
Observers note that as international support wanes, there is a growing need for African-driven innovation and self-reliance in financing the continent’s development goals.
As Tah prepares to take the helm of the AfDB, stakeholders across Africa and the global development community will be closely watching how his leadership shapes the Bank’s strategy and the continent’s broader development path in the years to come.