AfDB Elects New President; Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah

By Barth Ikiebe

Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah has been elected as the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.

Tah succeeds Nigeria’s Dr Akinwumi Adesina, whose 10-year tenure ends this year.

He will officially assume office on September 1, 2025.

The AfDB announced his election on Thursday following rounds of voting by the Board of Governors during the Bank’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Tah emerged victorious ahead of four other contenders: Amadou Hott (Senegal), Samuel Maimbo (Zambia), Abbas Mahamat Tolli (Chad), and Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa).

Our Correspondent reports that the AfDB Board of Governors comprises Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from the Bank’s 81 member countries.