Dr. Ould Tah has officially taken over as the new president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), marking the beginning of a five-year term at the helm of the continent’s leading development finance institution. He was sworn in on Monday in the presence of delegates from across Africa and beyond, succeeding Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who retired after completing two consecutive terms.
Dr. Tah, 60, secured his election on May 28, 2025, with over 76 percent of shareholder votes the highest margin ever recorded for a first-term president in the Bank’s history. His decisive victory reflects the strong confidence placed in his leadership and vision for the Bank’s future.
In his inaugural address, Dr. Tah outlined four core priorities that will guide his first 100 days in office: listening intently, launching a fast-track reform agenda, deepening partnerships, and accelerating real solutions for Africa’s development.
“Africa must look North, South, East and West not to imitate, but to draw wisdom and strength from every direction while defining its own course. Like a navigator guided by the compass, the Bank should help Africa navigate the megatrends toward increased self-reliance, ambition, and agency,” he said.
Dr. Tah emphasized that the AfDB would expand its partnerships beyond traditional multilateral and bilateral actors, bringing in new players such as sovereign wealth funds and pension funds to scale up development financing.
Before his election, Dr. Tah served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economy and Finance between 2008 and 2015. He also represented his country as Governor on the Boards of the AfDB, World Bank, and Islamic Development Bank, gaining extensive experience in international finance and development cooperation.
The Bank he inherits is in a strong position. With $318 billion in capital and AAA credit ratings maintained for 10 consecutive years, the AfDB is recognized globally for its financial strength. It also boasts the world’s highest transparency score for a sovereign portfolio, at 98.8 percent. Over the past decade alone, the Bank has approved $102 billion in development financing, supporting infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and social programs across Africa.
Dr. Tah’s presidency is expected to usher in a new era of reform and innovation as the AfDB positions itself to address Africa’s most pressing challenges.
