Sidi Ould Tah takes over as AfDB president

Sidi Ould Tah has been sworn in as the 9th president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, succeeding Akinwumi Adesina, whose 10-year tenure ended on Monday.

On May 29, Tah, a seasoned economist and development finance expert from Mauritania, secured 76.18 percent of the votes in the election held during the AfDB’s annual meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

At the annual meeting 2025, the newly elected president, in his victory speech, expressed enthusiasm and readiness to begin his presidential duties.

Tah emphasised collaboration and hard work as key to addressing challenges, adding that his administration focuses on economic development and social reform.

He also thanked President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire for the pivotal role played in his swearing-in, and President Mohamed Ghezouani of Mauritania for trusting him and mobilising national support.

The economist also extended gratitude to the Mauritanian government, traditional and religious authorities, the private sector, civil society, brotherly countries, and the governors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) for their trust and support.

Tah said he would work with all stakeholders in a spirit of consultation and collegiality to continue the mission of building a robust and prosperous Africa.

He also acknowledged the great work done by his predecessors in consolidating the AfDB into the major financial institution it is today.

“Dear brothers and sisters, I would like you to know that the ideas which you had, the proposals which you tabled, and the convictions which were expressed are well appreciated, and I would draw inspiration from them,” he said.

“I would also like to extend my gratitude to African intellectuals from all segments, media, the civil society, and all those who came on board to enrich discussions and debates on the African Development Bank as well as its impact on the continent.”

He reiterated his commitment to ensuring the AfDB significantly contributes to addressing challenges such as debt, climate change, and peace-building to achieve sustainable development in Africa.

TAH TO EXPAND AFDB’S PARTNERSHIP TO SOVEREIGN, PENSION FUNDS

The AfDB president said he intends to expand the bank’s partnerships to new players, including sovereign funds, pension funds, and others.

In his first 100 days, Tah said he will focus on four priorities, including listening to stakeholders, launching reforms, deepening partnerships, and accelerating solutions for access to finance and job creation.

“First, listening with intent to our shareholders, to our clients, our partners, and to our exceptional AFDB staff, so that our collective agenda reflects your real-world needs and ambitions,” he said.

“Second, launching a fast-track reform agenda to boost our operational speed, sharpen our execution, and unlock bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“Third, deepening partnership with both African and global institutions, private sector actors, so we can mobilise capital at scale and deliver lasting impact, especially around the urgency of ADF replenishment and other capital needs.

“Fourth, accelerating real solutions to expand access to finance, create jobs, empower women and youth, and unlock African industrial and financial potential for generations to come.”

Tah added that his administration will be the bank that bridges divides between vision and execution, between public and private sectors, and between urgency and bureaucracy.