Sidi Ould Tah Becomes New President of African Development Bank

A new chapter has begun at the African Development Bank (AfDB) as Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah steps into the role of president, becoming the 9th leader in the institution’s history. 

His election came after a decisive three-round vote that saw him emerge ahead of four other candidates, securing an overwhelming 76.18% of the vote.

Tah’s victory marks a swift and strategic shift in leadership. Unlike past elections that dragged on for multiple rounds such as Akinwumi Adesina’s six-round win in 2015 — this year’s process was quick and largely unified. 

By the second round, Tah had already gained solid momentum, winning over two-thirds of the African shareholder votes.

This landslide didn’t come from nowhere. Though he was the last to enter the race, Tah’s campaign was anything but last-minute. He drew strength from Mauritania’s rising diplomatic presence, especially under President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani’s 2024 African Union chairmanship. 

He also benefitted from strong ties with Arab League nations, bolstered by support from Saudi Arabia. These alliances were instrumental in securing the wide backing that pushed him ahead of contenders like Zambia’s Samuel Maimbo and Senegal’s Amadou Hott.

But it wasn’t just diplomacy that won him the seat, it was his track record. Over the past decade, Tah led the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he radically transformed the bank’s operations. 

Under his leadership, loan approvals increased twelvefold, disbursements rose eightfold, and non-performing loans dropped to under 0.5%. Just days before his AfDB election, BADEA’s credit rating was upgraded to AA+ by S&P, a clear sign of confidence in Tah’s stewardship.

His experience doesn’t end there. Tah once served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economy and Finance, a role he credits for giving him a complete view of Africa’s development landscape. “I’m ready to hit the ground running,” he said during the campaign. 

Though he officially takes office on September 1, his transition team begins work immediately.

Tah now steps into the shoes of Adesina, who led the AfDB for ten years. While Adesina’s tenure had its challenges, he leaves behind a financially stable institution. The Bank recorded a net profit of over €310 million last year and approved a record €10.6 billion in new projects. 

However, critics argue that despite its size, the AfDB still underperforms compared to peers like the Inter-American Development Bank.

That’s where Tah’s next challenge lies, scaling up impact. One of his main campaign promises was to unlock large-scale capital and reform Africa’s financial structure. 

His development vision, outlined through his “Four Cardinal Points,” calls for turning Africa’s youth boom into economic power, building sustainable industries, tapping into natural resources wisely, and, critically, attracting significant investments beyond traditional donor models.

Tah has already signaled that while he respects the work of his predecessor, including the “High 5” goals such as powering and feeding Africa, boosting integration, and improving livelihoods he intends to reshape the Bank’s 10-year strategy in line with today’s realities. “The AfDB can and must do better,” he emphasized.

With the backing of Arab financiers and a strong reformist agenda, Sidi Ould Tah’s presidency could signal the end of an era dominated by Western aid-driven development and the beginning of a bolder, more financially independent Africa. 

Whether he can bring the same level of transformation to the AfDB as he did at BADEA is the question the continent and the world will be watching closely.