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– First Mauritanian Leads African Development Bank
– Secured 76% in May Vote; Faces Major Funding Shortfalls
– Focus on Capital Mobilisation & Africa’s Economic Sovereignty
On September 1, 2025, Sidi Ould Tah officially assumed the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB), succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina after his second term. A veteran economist and former head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Tah was elected on May 29, 2025, winning an impressive 76.18% of the vote during the bank’s annual meetings in Abidjan. victory marks a first for Mauritania and underscores the substantial regional backing he garnered.
Tah steps into leadership amid significant financial challenges—most notably, a looming $555 million U.S. funding cut from the African Development Fund, which supports the continent’s most vulnerable nations. Observers anticipate his extensive experience and diplomatic reach will be vital as he pursues new capital mobilization strategies, strengthens Africa’s economic resilience, and champions structural transformation across the continent. In his inaugural speech in Abidjan, Tah expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and conveyed his readiness to “get to work,” setting a tone of urgency for his tenure.
