Dr. Sidi Ould Tah has been sworn in as the ninth President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), succeeding Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina who has completed his two terms.
- •A Mauritanian national, Dr. Ould Tah, 60, was elected on 29 May 2025 with over 76% of shareholder votes—the highest margin for a first-term president in the Bank’s history.
- •While at the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Dr. Tah oversaw the institution’s expansion: assets grew from $4 billion to nearly $7 billion, annual approvals increased twelvefold and disbursements eightfold; and the institution achieved AA+/AAA credit ratings.
- •Dr. Tah has outlined his Four Cardinal Points which include, listening intently; launching a fast-track reform agenda; deepening partnerships and accelerating real solutions as the core priorities which will guide his presidency in the first 100-days of office.
“We will be the Bank that bridges divides-between regions, between ambitions and execution, between public and private, between urgency and bureaucracy. Let us move forward together – with urgency, with unity, and with unwavering accountability.” Ould Tah said in his inaugural speech.
“Africa must look North, South, East and West—not to imitate, but to draw wisdom and strength from every direction while defining its own course. Like a navigator guided by the compass, the Bank should help Africa navigate the megatrends toward increased self-reliance, ambition, and agency,” he added.
Dr. Tah has also previously served as Minister of Economy and Finance of Mauritania between 2008 and 2015, and Mauritania’s Governor on the Boards of the African Development Bank, World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank, among others.
