Mr. Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected as the new President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), following a competitive vote held among the institution’s Board of Governors. He secured a commanding 68.42% of regional member votes and 48.41% of total votes cast, emerging as the preferred candidate to lead Africa’s premier development finance institution in the second round.
The election took place during the AfDB’s Annual Meetings, where regional and non-regional member countries voted to choose a successor to outgoing president Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who served two terms.
Mr. Ould Tah’s election is seen as a pivotal moment for the bank, with expectations that he will bring renewed focus to Arab-African financial cooperation, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth on the continent.
Sidi Ould Tah – A Veteran of Economic Development
Mr. Sidi Ould Tah brings a wealth of experience in development finance and public policy to the AfDB presidency. He has served as President and Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) since July 1, 2015. Under his leadership, BADEA expanded its development footprint across the continent, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, trade financing, and technical cooperation.
Prior to his tenure at BADEA, Ould Tah served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Development. His career includes decades of work in international finance, multilateral cooperation, and public sector reform, positioning him as a seasoned diplomat with deep understanding of Africa’s economic challenges and opportunities.
A respected figure in regional economic circles, Ould Tah is expected to leverage his background to build bridges between Arab and African economies, foster investment, and push forward the Bank’s agenda of sustainable development, climate resilience, and private sector growth.
