The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced the appointment of Dr. Zeine Zeidane as the new Director of its African Department, succeeding Abebe Aemro Selassie, who is set to retire on May 1, 2026.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva described Zeidane as a seasoned policymaker with deep institutional knowledge, sound judgement, and strong policymaking experience.
“Zeine will bring deep institutional knowledge, sound judgement, and strong policymaking experience to the department as it continues to respond to sub-Saharan Africa’s growing demands for tailored policy advice, financing, and capacity development,” Georgieva said.
Zeidane, a Mauritanian national, currently serves as Deputy Director in the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department. In this role, he has overseen the Fund’s engagement with major economies in the Gulf region and played a key part in deepening strategic partnerships, including the establishment of the IMF Regional Office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2024.
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Before his current position, Zeidane served as Deputy Director in the African Department itself, where he contributed significantly to shaping IMF policies for sub-Saharan Africa. He played a central role in reforms to concessional lending policies and the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also led work on the 2018 Governance Policy while in the Strategy, Policy, and Review Department.
Before joining the IMF in 2012, Zeidane held several high-level economic positions in Mauritania, including Prime Minister, Governor of the Central Bank, and Economic Advisor to the President. His background is further strengthened by experience at the World Bank and in the commercial banking sector, providing him with a comprehensive perspective on policy design, implementation, and international cooperation.
Georgieva added that Zeidane’s “calm and measured approach has proven especially effective in addressing difficult and sensitive challenges,” expressing full confidence in his ability to lead the African Department with purpose and advance its mandate.
Zeidane holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics and a postgraduate degree in Macroeconomics from the University of Nice. He brings over two decades of experience in macroeconomic policymaking and international economic relations to his new role.
