Sidi Ould Tah, a distinguished Mauritanian economist and development finance expert, was elected the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group on May 29, 2025, during the Bank’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Assuming office on September 1, 2025, Tah secured a commanding 76.18% of the total vote and 72.37% of regional votes in the third round, succeeding Akinwumi Adesina.
With a career spanning over four decades, Tah brings extensive expertise in economic policy, financial management, and development finance to lead the AfDB, the continent’s premier multilateral development institution.
His election by the Bank’s Board of Governors, comprising Finance and Economy Ministers or Central Bank Governors from 81 regional and non-regional member countries, underscores his reputation as a trusted leader in African development.
Tah’s career began in 1984 at the Mauritanian Bank for Development and Commerce (BMDC), where he served as an expert. He later held roles as a financial analyst at the Food Security Commission (1986) and Administration and Finance Manager for the Municipality of Nouakchott (1987). From 1988 to 1996, he was Advisor to the Director General and Director of the Internal Auditing Department at the Nouakchott Port Authority.
ALSO READ: CÔTE D’IVOIRE BOOSTS STAKE IN AFRICAN TRADE INSURANCE AGENCY
Tah joined the Arab Authority for Agriculture, Investment and Development (AAAID) in Khartoum as a financial analyst, followed by roles at the Islamic Development Bank from 1999 to 2006 as Investment Promotion Officer and Technical Assistant to the President.
From 2006 to 2008, Tah served as an advisor to both the President and Prime Minister of Mauritania, shaping national economic strategies. His leadership culminated in his appointment as Mauritania’s Minister of Economy and Finance from July 2008 to 2015, where he drove fiscal reforms and economic stability.
In July 2015, Tah was unanimously elected Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), a role he held until April 2025, fostering economic growth across African nations.
As AfDB President, Sidi Ould Tah is poised to advance the Bank’s mission of promoting sustainable economic development and poverty reduction across Africa, leveraging his deep expertise and strategic vision to drive transformative impact.
