Former Mauritanian Finance Minister Elected President of African Development Bank

Sidi Ould Tah

Source: Africa Publicity

A former finance Minister of Mauritania, Sidi Ould Tah, has been elected the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Tah was elected on Thursday, May 29, 2025 during AfDB’s annual meeting in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.

He replaces Nigerian economist, Akinwumi Adesina, who is expected to step down in September this year completing the maximum two five-year terms in office.

In a press release on Thursday, AfDB says ”Tah brings over 35 years of experience in African and international finance. He served as president of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) for 10 years from 2015, where he led a full transformation that quadrupled the Bank’s balance sheet, secured a AAA rating, and positioned it among the top-rated development banks focused on Africa.”

In total, five candidates contested for the bank’s presidential job.

Other contenders were Amadou Hott (Senegal), Samuel Maimbo (Zambia), Mahamat Abbas Tolli (Chad) and Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa).

The winning candidate is required to obtain at least 50.01% of the vote.

The new President’s mandate will start on September 1, 2025, for a five-year term, after which he will be eligible to seek another.

Tah’s election comes at a time when African nations are battling aid freezes and cuts by Washington, and reduced infrastructure spending and lending by China.

About Sidi Ould Tah

Tah started his career as expert at the Mauritanian Bank for Development and Commerce (BMDC) (1984-1986), then as financial analyst at the Food Security Commission (1986). He held the position of Administration and Finance Manager of the Municipality of “Nouakchott” (1987). During the period 1988-1996, he was assigned the job of Advisor to the Director General and Director of Internal Auditing Department in “Nouakchott” Port Authority.

He worked as Financial Analyst at the Khartoum-based Arab Authority for Agriculture, Investment and Development (AAAID) (1996-1999). During the period 1999-2006, Tah served as Investment Promotion Officer then as Technical Assistant to the President of the Islamic Development Bank.

Tah held the position of advisor to both the President and the Prime Minister respectively (2006-2008).

In July 2008, he was nominated Minister of Economy and Finance. From 2008, he held the position of Minister of Economic Affairs and Development until his appointment as Director General of BADEA.