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Sidi Ould Tah, Mauritania’s candidate for the African Development Bank (AfDB) presidency, will lay out his policy vision on Tuesday, May 6, during a press briefing with international media in Nouakchott.
Tah, a seasoned banker and head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) until last month, is one of five candidates vying to replace Akinwunmi Adesina as president of the continent’s most influential multilateral financing institution.
Adesina’s second and final tenure ends in August but a successor will be elected on May 29.
“Africa stands at a critical juncture when the African Development Bank must rise to meet the moment with bold leadership, deeper regional partnerships, and a sharper focus on sustainable growth that percolates deep so that no one is left behind,” Tah said ahead of the press briefing that has drawn dozens of journalists from across the continent to Mauritania’s capital city.
At the briefing, Tah will outline key priorities of his candidacy which include expanding access to finance for African entrepreneurs and SMEs; strengthening food security; and supporting climate resilience and energy transition.
Enhancing regional integration and digital infrastructure, as well as ensuring institutional efficiency and inclusive governance within AfDB, also rank among his top priorities.
Tah will be banking on his decade-long tenure at BADEA to make the case that he has the experience and track record needed to steer the AfDB through its next chapter.
During his tenure at BADEA, Tah oversaw the disbursement of more than $11 billion for projects across the continent, accounting for over 70 percent of the bank’s $15 billion total financing since it began operations in 1975.
He previously served as minister of finance and economy between 2008 and 2015 in his home country of Mauritania with an estimated GDP of $11.5 billion in 2024.
Four contenders will join Tah in the race to lead the AfDB, setting up a high-stakes contest for one of Africa’s most influential financial roles.
Senegal has nominated Amadou Hott, its former economy and planning minister. Zambia is backing Samuel Munzele Maimbo, a vice president at the World Bank. South Africa is fielding Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala, the AfDB’s outgoing senior vice president and the sole female candidate; and Chad’s Abbas Mahamat Tolli, an economist and former Governor of the Bank of Central African States, rounds out the slate.
Whoever wins will inherit the helm at a precarious moment, as geopolitical tensions and shifting donor priorities weigh on multilateral funding.
The U.S., the bank’s second-largest shareholder, has axed its support for the AfDB in a move that has rattled confidence and underscores the institution’s vulnerability to political headwinds.
The Donald Trump administration plans to shave $555 million in funding for the AfDB’s main development fund as part of sweeping cuts to foreign aid.
Under a proposal submitted to the US Congress last week, Washington would end all contributions to the African Development Fund for the continent’s low-income countries next year.
Analysts say the move, which brings an end to five decades of US funding for the AfDB, is likely to force a reset in the way the bank’s key fund operates. Its current $8.9 billion three-year funding cycle ends this year.
“The African Development Bank must rise to meet the moment with bold leadership, deeper regional partnerships, and a sharper focus on sustainable growth that percolates deep so that no one is left behind,” Tah said in a press statement.
Lolade Akinmurele, Nouakchott
Ololade Akinmurele a seasoned journalist and Deputy Editor at BusinessDay, holds a crucial position shaping the publication’s editorial direction. With extensive experience in business reporting and editing, he ensures high-quality journalism. A University of Lagos and King’s College alumnus, Akinmurele is a Bloomberg-award winner, backed by professional certifications from prominent firms like CitiBank, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and the International Monetary Fund.
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