Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, the Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), has been elected as the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group. The election, which marks a new chapter for the continent's leading development finance institution, took place during the AfDB's Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, held from May 26 to 30. Dr. Ould Tah is set to commence his five-year term on September 1, 2025, succeeding Nigeria’s Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, whose second term concludes this year.

The election outcome was determined after three intense rounds of voting by the Bank Group’s Board of Governors. This board comprises Finance and Economy Ministers and Central Bank Governors from the AfDB’s 81 member countries, encompassing both regional and non-regional members. Dr. Ould Tah secured a decisive victory with 76 per cent of the delegate votes. The results were formally announced by Niale Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development and Chair of the Board of Governors. According to the Bank’s electoral regulations, a candidate needs over 50.01% of the vote from both regional and non-regional members to be declared the winner.

A distinguished figure in development finance, Dr. Ould Tah brings over 35 years of rich experience from both public and multilateral sectors. Most recently, he served a ten-year tenure as president of BADEA, starting in 2015. Under his leadership, BADEA underwent a significant structural transformation, which saw its balance sheet quadruple and its credit rating elevated to AAA. His professional journey began in 1984 at the Mauritanian Bank for Development and Commerce (BMDC). He subsequently held positions at the Food Security Commission and as Administration and Finance Manager at the Municipality of Nouakchott. Between 1988 and 1996, he served as Advisor to the Director General and headed Internal Auditing at the Nouakchott Port Authority.

Dr. Ould Tah's international career includes roles as a Financial Analyst at the Arab Authority for Agriculture, Investment and Development (AAAID) in Sudan and senior positions at the Islamic Development Bank, where he served as Technical Assistant to the President. On the political front in his home country of Mauritania, he was an economic advisor to both the President and Prime Minister from 2006 to 2008. He was later appointed Minister of Economy and Finance, and subsequently Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, a position he held until his appointment at BADEA. His work has also involved crisis response, resource mobilization, and initiatives like the creation of BADEA’s $1 billion callable capital programme for African multilateral development banks.

The 2025 AfDB presidential election featured five candidates, including Amadou Hott of Senegal, Samuel Maimbo of Zambia, Mahamat Abbas Tolli of Chad, and Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala of South Africa, alongside Dr. Ould Tah. Their candidacies were reviewed and approved by the Board of Governors Steering Committee by January 31, with the official list released on February 21. This year’s AfDB Annual Meetings were themed “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development.” Speaking after his election, Dr. Ould Tah acknowledged the developmental challenges facing the continent, stating, “Africa cannot afford to fall behind. This institution must continue to be bold in mobilising the capital, partnerships and innovation needed to deliver on our collective goals.”

Founded in 1964, the African Development Bank has been led by eight presidents prior to Dr. Ould Tah: Mamoun Beheiry (Sudan), Abdelwahab Labidi (Tunisia), Kwame Donkor Fordwor (Ghana), Willa Mung’Omba (Zambia), Babacar N’diaye (Senegal), Omar Kabbaj (Morocco), Donald Kaberuka (Rwanda), and the outgoing Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (Nigeria). Dr. Ould Tah will be the first Mauritanian to lead the institution. The AfDB Group consists of three entities: the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, and the Nigeria Trust Fund. It currently has 54 African member countries and 27 non-African member states. The change in leadership occurs as African institutions face increasing pressure to respond effectively to a spectrum of economic, social, and environmental challenges.