Sidi Ould Tah Assumes Presidency Of African Development Bank With Bold Reform Vision.
Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, a distinguished Mauritanian economist, was sworn in as the ninth president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group on 1 September 2025, marking a new chapter for Africa’s premier development finance institution. The ceremony, held at the Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire, was attended by dignitaries including Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara, Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, and outgoing AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, whose transformative 10-year tenure concluded on the same day.
Elected on 29 May 2025 with a commanding 76.18% of total votes and 72.37% of regional votes in the third round of voting, Tah secured the highest margin for a first-term president in the bank’s history. His appointment follows a distinguished career, including a decade as president of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he spearheaded a 376% capital expansion and increased annual approvals twelvefold, earning BADEA an AA+ credit rating from S&P Global in May 2025. Tah also served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, bringing over 35 years of expertise in development finance and international cooperation.
In his inaugural address, Tah outlined a four-point agenda for his first 100 days, focusing on stakeholder engagement, operational reforms, partnership expansion, and accelerated financing for inclusive growth. “The AfDB must be attentive, responsive, and capable of setting priorities that matter,” he declared, pledging to streamline bureaucratic processes and enhance agility in project delivery. He emphasised the importance of partnerships with African and global institutions, including sovereign wealth funds and pension funds, to mobilise capital at scale. Tah also committed to establishing a dedicated investment pillar for peace, stating, “There is no development without peace, and no peace without development.”
Tah’s vision builds on the AfDB’s High 5 priorities—Feed Africa, Light up and Power Africa, Integrate Africa, Industrialise Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for Africans—while introducing innovative financing models to address climate change, youth unemployment, and debt sustainability. He aims to mobilise $50–60 billion annually through hybrid capital instruments and credit guarantee schemes, leveraging the bank’s $318 billion capital base.
The swearing-in, presided over by Ludovic Ngatsé, Republic of Congo’s Minister of Economy and Chair of the AfDB Board of Governors, was hailed as a milestone for the institution. President Ouattara described it as “paving the way for a new era of hope,” while President Ghazouani expressed confidence in Tah’s ability to advance Africa’s economic and social development. As Tah takes the helm amid global funding challenges, including a $555 million cut from the U.S., his leadership is seen as pivotal in steering the AfDB towards greater resilience and impact across its 54 African and 27 non-regional member countries.
