New AfDB President Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah pledges reform, unity

Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah,who secured a five-year mandate at the helm of the African development Bank,one of the continent’s most influential financial institutions,pledged in his victory speech to “build a stronger,more responsive AfDB” that can better support member countries in tackling urgent challenges such as climate resilience,food security,and youth employment.

He also emphasized the need to deepen partnerships with the private sector and multilateral institutions to unlock new sources of capital.

Ould Tah’s election,confirmed on May 29 during the AfDB’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan,marks a pivotal moment for the bank as it navigates a complex landscape of economic recovery,climate financing,and regional integration.

Ould Tah,who will officially take office on September 1,2025,succeeds Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina,whose decade-long tenure was marked by record capital increases and a sharpened focus on infrastructure and energy.

The incoming president brings over a decade of experience as head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA),where he championed private sector development and South-South cooperation.

His candidacy was backed by a broad coalition of African and non-regional shareholders,including strong support from North and West African nations. Observers say his election reflects a desire for continuity in development priorities,but also a shift toward greater institutional agility and inclusiveness.

Analysts say his leadership will be tested early by the need to mobilize additional resources for the AfDB’s high 5 priorities,including industrialization,regional integration,and improving quality of life,while navigating geopolitical tensions and rising debt vulnerabilities across the continent.

Ould Tah’s election is also seen as a symbolic win for smaller African economies,reinforcing the AfDB’s commitment to equitable representation and regional balance.

The Mauritanian government celebrated the win as a diplomatic triumph,having mounted a coordinated campaign led by Prime Minister Mohamed Ould Bilal. The effort included outreach to key voting blocs and a strategic pitch centered on Ould Tah’s technocratic credentials and pan-African vision.