Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah has been elected as the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina. The announcement was made on Thursday following the conclusion of the AfDB’s annual meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Sidi Ould Tah, who previously served as the head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) for a decade, secured a decisive victory with 72.37 percent of the African votes. His extensive experience in economic development and leadership in African finance positioned him as a strong candidate for the role.
Tah takes over from Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who has led the AfDB since May 28, 2015, and is widely credited with expanding the bank’s influence and impact across the continent.
As he assumes office, Sidi Ould Tah is expected to focus on driving sustainable economic growth, infrastructure development, and financial inclusion across Africa, building on the foundation laid by his predecessor.