Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected the ninth president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), stepping into the spotlight at the bank’s annual meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. He replaces Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina, who has steered the Bank with distinction for nearly a decade. Tah’s election, carried out by the Bank’s Board of Governors, comprising finance and economy ministers and central bank governors from 81 member countries, marks the dawn of a new chapter for one of Africa’s most influential financial institutions.
The leadership transition comes at a time when Africa is navigating a mix of promise and pressure. The continent faces mounting challenges, from climate-related disruptions and rising debt levels to persistent infrastructure deficits. Yet, it also holds significant potential, with a growing youth population and expanding innovation ecosystems. As Sidi Ould Tah assumes office, expectations are high for him to steer the Bank toward solutions that strengthen economic resilience, promote regional cooperation, and ensure that development financing reaches the continent’s most vulnerable communities.
READ ALSO: Kenya’s Energy Surge and the African Development Bank’s €101M Pledge
Sidi Ould Tah’s Credentials: From Minister to Regional Bank Leader
Tah’s rise is not the story of a technocrat plucked from obscurity but of a seasoned development economist whose footprints span policy halls and institutional corridors across Africa. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Nice-Sophia-Antipolis in France and has enhanced his leadership credentials with executive education from Harvard University and the London Business School. More than academic pedigree, however, it is his lived experience as Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and as Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) that set him apart from other contenders.
At BADEA, Tah led an ambitious expansion of development lending and capacity-building initiatives across African states, positioning the institution as a more assertive player in Africa’s financing ecosystem. His leadership philosophy has often emphasised ownership by African countries, evidence-based solutions, and smart partnerships, qualities that align with AfDB’s increasingly complex mandate in a post-COVID world.
U.S. Aid Cuts, Infrastructure Gaps, and Fiscal Pressures
Tah’s tenure begins amid pressing financial and geopolitical pressures. The African Development Bank, with its $318 billion capital base, is revered for its policy credibility and convening power. Yet the road ahead is anything but smooth.
One of the most immediate challenges is the potential withdrawal of U.S. support to the African Development Fund (ADF), the Bank’s concessional window for the continent’s most fragile economies. The expected loss of $555 million, if finalised by Congress, would be a severe blow, especially to countries heavily reliant on affordable financing for basic infrastructure, social welfare, and climate adaptation projects.
Moreover, the continent’s annual infrastructure financing gap remains north of $100 billion. The AfDB’s own replenishment target for 2025 alone stands at $25 billion. Bridging this gulf will demand not just more money but more innovation, an area where Tah has promised to deliver.
Tah’s Climate Vision: Driving Africa’s Green Finance and Carbon Market Integration
One of Tah’s signature priorities is expected to be climate finance. Africa, which contributes the least to global carbon emissions, remains the most vulnerable to climate change. The continent loses billions annually to droughts, floods, and climate-induced displacement. Tah has championed a more proactive stance, including the bank’s recent launch of the Africa Carbon Support Facility.
This initiative will support countries in developing carbon credit frameworks, infrastructure for trading, and integration of carbon credits into stock exchanges. If executed well, it could allow Africa not only to adapt but to benefit economically from the global push for carbon neutrality, making African forests, wetlands, and green energy projects valuable commodities on the world stage.
Integrating Africa’s Informal Economy: Tah’s Strategy for Inclusive Growth
But Tah’s ambitions don’t end with the environment. He has spoken about the need to better integrate Africa’s vast informal economies, which represent up to 85% of employment in some countries, into the formal financial system. This means financing small businesses, digitising trade corridors, and reforming tax regimes to be more inclusive and less extractive.
Unlocking the power of the informal sector could drive job creation, increase domestic revenues, and reduce poverty more sustainably than aid alone ever could. Tah’s ability to align the AfDB’s capital and advisory functions behind this goal could be one of his most enduring legacies.
Balancing Reform and Stability: Tah’s Mandate to Modernise the AfDB
While Tah inherits an institution with solid foundations, he will also be expected to usher in reform. His soon-to-be predecessor, Adesina, expanded the Bank’s profile globally, helped secure a $115 billion general capital increase, and navigated the institution through crises including COVID-19. However, critics have pointed to occasional tensions with donors and internal governance concerns. Tah will have to balance continuity with transformation, preserving credibility while pushing for deeper efficiency, transparency, and alignment with Africa’s emerging realities.
What to Expect as Sidi Ould Tah Takes Office as AfDB President in September 2025
As the continent prepares for Tah to formally assume office on September 1, 2025, stakeholders are watching closely. Development finance institutions are not just banks; they are architects of hope, shapers of policy, and custodians of dreams deferred.
