Sidi Ould Tah has been sworn in as 9th president of African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina, whose decade-long tenure ended on Monday.
Gatekeepers News reports that Tah, a Mauritanian economist and development finance specialist, was elected on May 29 during the AfDB’s annual meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, securing 76.18 percent of the votes.
In his victory speech at the 2025 annual meeting, Tah expressed enthusiasm about the task ahead, stressing unity and hard work as essential to tackling Africa’s challenges.
AfDB President pledged to focus on economic growth and social reform, while thanking those who supported his candidacy.
He expressed appreciation to President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire for hosting the swearing-in, and to President Mohamed Ghezouani of Mauritania for trusting him and mobilising national support.
Tah extended his gratitude to the Mauritanian government, religious and traditional leaders, civil society, private sector players, and the bank’s Governor.
He also acknowledged the institution’s past leaders, noting their role in strengthening the AfDB into a premier financial institution.
The president said, “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.”
“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.”
Tah pledged to make the AfDB a driver of solutions to Africa’s pressing concerns, including debt, climate change, and peace-building, while pursuing sustainable development.
Looking ahead, Tah outlined his plan to broaden AfDB’s collaboration with sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and other financial partners. He set out a 100-day agenda anchored on four priorities.
He said, “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.”
“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 concluded by noting that under his leadership, AfDB would serve as the bank that bridges divides between vision and execution, between public and private sectors, and between urgency and bureaucracy.
