Mauritania’s Dr Sidi Ould Tah Elected as New AfDB President, Set to Succeed Akinwumi Adesina
posted 30th May 2025
Mauritania’s Dr Sidi Ould Tah Elected as New AfDB President, Set to Succeed Akinwumi Adesina
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 30 May 2025 – The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has elected Dr Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania as its ninth president, marking a significant transition for one of Africa’s premier financial institutions. Dr Tah, a seasoned economist and former Mauritanian finance minister, will assume office on 1 September 2025, succeeding Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who has led the bank for a decade. Tah’s election, announced during the AfDB’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, follows a competitive race, with the Mauritanian securing a commanding 76.18% of shareholder votes after three rounds.
Born in 1964 in Mederdra, Mauritania, Dr Sidi Ould Tah, aged 61, holds a doctorate in development economics from the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis in France. His career spans over 35 years, encompassing high-level roles in Mauritanian governance and international finance. Tah served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance from 2008 to 2015, where he spearheaded financial reforms and crisis response strategies.
Most notably, Tah was president of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) from 2015 to 2025. During his tenure, he transformed BADEA into a top-rated development bank, quadrupling its balance sheet, securing a AAA credit rating, and establishing a $1 billion callable capital programme for African multilateral development banks (MDBs). His leadership at BADEA emphasised innovative resource mobilisation and partnerships, particularly with Gulf nations, which he has pledged to leverage at the AfDB.
Tah’s campaign for the AfDB presidency, led by former AfDB and World Bank vice-president Frannie Léautier, centred on four “Cardinal Points”: consolidating the bank’s financial capacity, reforming Africa’s financial architecture, harnessing the demographic dividend, and building climate-resilient infrastructure. His platform resonated strongly, with Tah stressing a “360° view of development challenges” from his ministerial and banking experience.
Dr Tah’s record in the banking and development finance sectors is formidable. At BADEA, he repositioned the institution as a key player in African development, focusing on sustainable financing and strategic partnerships. His ability to secure a AAA rating for BADEA underscores his financial acumen, a critical asset as the AfDB navigates funding challenges, including a proposed $555 million cut to its African Development Fund (ADF) by the United States under President Donald Trump.
Tah’s earlier roles included senior positions in multilateral institutions, where he led initiatives for financial reform and resource mobilisation. As Mauritania’s finance minister, he managed economic stabilisation during turbulent periods, earning a reputation for pragmatic leadership. His campaign highlighted continuity with Adesina’s legacy, particularly initiatives like the “High 5s” and “Desert to Power,” while advocating for bolder strategies to address Africa’s $400 billion annual financing gap for structural transformation.
Dr Tah’s election comes at a pivotal moment for the AfDB, which manages a $318 billion capital base and is owned by 54 African states and non-regional members, including the US, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. The bank has been a cornerstone of Africa’s development, approving €10.6 billion in new projects in 2024 and posting a net profit of €310 million. However, challenges loom, from climate change and debt sustainability to youth unemployment and constrained international funding.
Tah’s vision suggests a proactive approach. He has vowed to diversify funding sources, tapping into Gulf wealth and private co-financing to offset potential Western aid reductions. His emphasis on reforming Africa’s financial architecture, including the African Financial Stability Mechanism (AFSM) to mitigate debt crises, aligns with the continent’s need for affordable capital, where borrowing costs are often 5–8% higher than in developed nations.
Analysts are optimistic but cautious. Tah’s experience and diplomatic networks, bolstered by Mauritania’s 2024 African Union chairmanship under President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, position him to strengthen the AfDB’s global influence. His pledge to “do better and do more” builds on Adesina’s legacy while addressing criticisms that the AfDB lags behind peers like the Inter-American Development Bank in impact relative to size.
However, challenges such as US funding cuts, global trade tariffs, and commodity price volatility could test Tah’s leadership. His ability to mobilise capital at scale and deliver on climate-resilient infrastructure will be crucial, especially as Africa faces a 14% GDP financing gap by 2030.
Dr Sidi Ould Tah’s election marks a milestone for Mauritania and the AfDB. His decisive victory, with over three-quarters of votes against strong contenders like Zambia’s Samuel Maimbo and Senegal’s Amadou Hott, reflects confidence in his vision. As he prepares to take office, Tah has pledged to begin the transition immediately, with his core team joining the bank from 29 May 2025.
In his victory speech, Tah reaffirmed his commitment to sustainable development, infrastructure financing, and economic transformation. With a proven track record and a clear agenda, he steps into a role that will shape Africa’s development trajectory for the next five years. If Tah can deliver on his ambitious promises, the AfDB’s future looks promising under his stewardship.
Sources: African Development Bank Group, Reuters, The Africa Report, Semafor, Citinewsroom, posts on X
