Africa: Sidi Ould Tah elected President of the African Development Bank
It’s now official: Sidi Ould Tah, a 61-year-old Mauritanian, has been elected as the new President of the African Development Bank (AfDB). The announcement was made this Thursday following the institution’s Annual Meetings, currently being held in Abidjan.
The election took place during a meeting of the AfDB’s Board of Governors. Mr. Tah, the current Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), defeated four other candidates from Zambia, Senegal, Chad, and South Africa.
He secured victory in the third round of voting, obtaining the required two-thirds majority as stipulated by the Bank’s rules.
Sidi Ould Tah succeeds Akinwumi Adesina, who has led the AfDB since 2015. His election comes at a strategic juncture, as the Pan-African institution is expected to play an even greater role in financing the continent’s economic, climate, and security resilience.
This decision sends a strong signal in favour of African unity and the strengthening of regional institutions, particularly amid numerous structural challenges.
All eyes are now on the governance and funding priorities Mr. Tah will implement as head of one of the continent’s most influential multilateral banks.
