Sidi Ould Tah Clinches AfDB Presidency with Overwhelming Majority
Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah has emerged as the new president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), following a decisive win in the final round of voting, where he secured an overwhelming 70 per cent of the vote.
The election process, which extended over several rounds, consistently saw Tah in a strong position. His lead proved insurmountable as he steadily gained momentum en route to victory. Tah, a seasoned economist and former Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), is set to take over the reins of the institution on September 1, 2025, succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina.
His path to victory was further cleared when Nigeria shifted its stance, withdrawing support from its nominee, Amadou Hott. The decision came in the wake of Hott’s inability to win over Côte d’Ivoire—the country that hosts the AfDB’s headquarters—signalling a critical blow to his campaign.
A seasoned Mauritanian economist, Sidi Ould Tah brings to the African Development Bank more than three decades of leadership in both African and global financial systems.
During a decade-long tenure beginning in 2015, he served as President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he spearheaded a sweeping institutional transformation.
Under his leadership, the Bank’s balance sheet expanded fourfold, it attained a coveted AAA credit rating, and it emerged as one of the highest-rated development finance institutions dedicated to Africa.
Prior to his role at BADEA, Tah served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance. He has also held senior positions across various multilateral organisations, playing a pivotal role in crisis management, structural reforms, and innovative financial strategies.
Notably, he was instrumental in launching BADEA’s $1 billion callable capital facility to support African multilateral development banks.
