Skip to content
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire – Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, Mauritania’s former economy minister, is the new president of the African Development Bank (AfDB). He succeeds Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina. Tah won in three voting rounds. This contrasts with Adesina’s six-round election in 2015. The AfDB will now be led by Sidi Ould Tah as AfDB President.
Tah received 76.18% of the total vote. He also gained 72.37% support from African member nations. His rivals were Zambian economist Samuel Munzele Maimbo (20.26%) and Senegal’s Amadou Hott (3.55%). Maimbo congratulated Tah. He said, “Today, the Governors have chosen the leader they believe will best deliver the vision of the Africa we want at this pivotal moment.”
Tah’s Plan: African Financial Autonomy, Sustainable Development
Dr. Tah led the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) for ten years. This experience connects North and Sub-Saharan Africa. Many AfDB members are North African countries. His campaign focused on financial sovereignty. He also stressed regional integration and sustainable development. “I entered this race driven by love and deep concern for our continent,” Tah stated.
His priorities include using Africa’s population growth for development. He also plans investment in climate-resilient infrastructure. Tah will build on Adesina’s “High 5s” agenda. This agenda aimed to power, feed, industrialize, and integrate Africa, and improve quality of life. The leadership of Sidi Ould Tah as AfDB President will guide these efforts.
Global Issues and U.S. Funding Doubts
Tah leads the AfDB during a volatile global economy. The bank also faces funding threats. A key concern is the possible U.S. withdrawal of $500 million. Shifting U.S. development priorities, influenced by the Trump administration, cause this uncertainty.
The AfDB was founded in 1964. It is a major multilateral bank. Under Adesina, its capital base grew from $93 billion to $318 billion. “We have built a world-class financial institution that will continue to advance Africa’s position,” Adesina said in his farewell. He noted AfDB initiatives impacted 565 million people. Key projects include Egypt’s Gabal El Asfar wastewater plant and West African infrastructure. Electricity expansion in Kenya is another. Tah must now lead the AfDB through these financial uncertainties. He must also continue its mission across Africa.
By Abiodun Labi
