Mauritania’s Sidi Ould Tah elected AfDB President

Dr. Sidi Ould Tah from Mauritania has won the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB). He triumphed after three rounds of voting against four other candidates.

Ould Tah is now the ninth president of the AfDB. He succeeds Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina, who served two terms. Adesina was known for expanding the bank's influence across Africa.

In the final vote, Ould Tah received 76.18% support. Zambia’s Samuel Maimbo got 20.26%, while Senegal’s Amadou Hott received 3.55%. Chad’s Mahamat Abbas Tolli was eliminated first with just 0.88%. South Africa’s Swazi Tshabalala followed with 5.9%.

Ould Tah entered the final rounds as a frontrunner. He gained support from both regional and non-regional member countries to secure his win. This victory is significant for Mauritania, enhancing its role in Africa's development finance.

In his victory speech, Ould Tah promised to strengthen the AfDB's mission. He aims to promote sustainable development and finance critical infrastructure projects across Africa.

The African Development Bank is based in Abidjan and plays a vital role in Africa's development agenda. It manages billions of dollars in project financing. Ould Tah will face major challenges like climate change and youth employment during his leadership.