As Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s tenure as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) nears its conclusion in May 2025, the race to elect his successor in the AfDB Election 2025 has intensified. Adesina, who became AfDB President in 2015 and was re-elected in 2020, leaves behind a legacy of transformative programs. The election, set for May 29, 2025, during AfDB’s Annual Meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, will mark a critical moment for the Bank, tasked with promoting sustainable development across its 82 member countries.
A total of eight candidates have officially declared their interest, representing a diverse array of countries and professional backgrounds. Key regional blocs—ECOWAS, SADC, COMESA, and CEMAC—are expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the AfDB Election 2025, as they often pool votes to support favored candidates, although national interests sometimes lead individual member states to break from bloc alignment.
The candidates vying for the prestigious role include:
- Abbas Mahamat Tolli (Chad): Former Governor of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), endorsed by both CEMAC and ECCAS. Tolli was the first to declare his candidacy, securing strong early support in 2024.
- Albert Zeufack (Cameroon): World Bank Country Director for Angola, Burundi, the DRC, and São Tomé and Príncipe. His candidacy has faced hurdles due to Cameroon’s delayed backing and regional divisions within CEMAC.
- Rabah Arezki (Algeria): Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management at the AfDB. Arezki brings a wealth of experience from prior roles at the World Bank and IMF.
- Amadou Hott (Senegal): Former President of the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA). Hott enjoys solid support from Senegal’s leadership, positioning him as a strong contender.
- Samuel Munzele Maimbo (Zambia): Vice President for Budget and Strategic Planning at the World Bank. Supported by both SADC and COMESA, Maimbo’s candidacy has sparked debates over regional endorsements.
- Ousmane Kane (Mauritania): Former AfDB Vice President and Central Bank Governor. His extensive experience at the AfDB and backing from Mauritania’s leadership have strengthened his campaign.
- Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa): Senior Vice President at AfDB until October 2024. South Africa’s backing of her candidacy has disrupted traditional SADC unity, causing a potential shift in the bloc’s influence.
- Romuald Wadagni (Benin): Minister of Economy and Finance. Wadagni’s campaign is bolstered by a notable financial contribution to the African Development Fund, boosting his standing.
This election takes place at a pivotal time for the AfDB, with lingering tensions over regional representation and the balance of focus between Anglophone and Francophone Africa. Candidates like Tolli, Hott, and Arezki represent French-speaking nations, which are seeking to address perceived imbalances in AfDB’s priorities. Meanwhile, South Africa’s support for Tshabalala in the AfDB Election 2025 has fractured the unity within the SADC bloc, creating further complexity in the electoral process.
Under Dr. Adesina’s leadership, the AfDB significantly expanded its developmental outreach, providing loans, grants, and technical assistance to African governments and private enterprises. The next AfDB President, elected in the AfDB Election 2025, will face the challenge of balancing competing regional interests while continuing to advance the Bank’s mission of fostering inclusive growth and sustainable development across the continent.
As the May 2025 election draws closer, the race remains a high-stakes contest, reflecting the evolving dynamics of African leadership, regional cooperation, and the drive for sustainable development.
