Who will lead Africa’s top Development Bank? Meet the contenders

This week, Africa's economic future is in focus. The African Development Bank (AfDB) is hosting over 6,000 global delegates in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. They are gathering for the 2025 Annual Meetings. This event will determine the next leader of the AfDB.

The AfDB has a capital base of $318 billion. This funding is crucial for Africa’s growth amid tightening aid budgets and rising borrowing costs. Elections for the new leadership are set for Thursday, May 29, 2025.

Amadou Hott (Senegal)
Hott is Senegal’s former economy minister. He has a strong background in banking and investment. His main goal is to boost Africa's financial self-reliance. He aims to mobilize domestic resources and retain private capital on the continent. Hott also wants to improve tax collection to strengthen credit ratings.

Samuel Munzele Maimbo (Zambia)
Maimbo currently serves as a World Bank vice president on leave. He has 30 years of experience in development finance. His proposal focuses on strengthening financial infrastructure across Africa. He aims to improve data systems and harmonize regulations for trade and financing. Maimbo believes there is significant untapped potential within intra-African trade.

Swazi Tshabalala Bajabulile (South Africa)
Tshabalala has three decades of banking experience and was AfDB’s senior vice president until October. She is the only female candidate running for leadership. Tshabalala advocates for an overhaul of the bank’s internal structure to enhance project delivery. She wants to expand innovative financial instruments to unlock Africa's resource potential.

Abbas Mahamat Tolli (Chad)
Tolli has held key financial roles in Central Africa, including finance minister and central bank governor. His priorities include strengthening governance and increasing self-sufficiency across various sectors. Tolli calls for a major overhaul of AfDB’s operational model with a focus on public-private partnerships and digitized financing mechanisms.

Sidi Ould Tah (Mauritania)
Ould Tah is a former Mauritanian finance minister with ten years at the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa. He aims to enhance Africa's economic sovereignty by reforming financial systems and mobilizing broader capital sources. Ould Tah emphasizes formalizing the informal sector, which employs over 80% of Africans, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure.

This election comes at a critical time for Africa, facing rising debt burdens and climate risks. The new AfDB leadership will significantly influence the continent's financial trajectory over the next decade.