- Mauritanian candidate Sidi Ould Tah won more than 76% of total regional and non-regional votes in the African Development Bank (AfDB) election.
- Ould Tah majored votes from the bank's 81 member countries, signalling priorities such as job creation, universal energy access, and promotion of transcontinental trade integration.

Mauritanian economist Sidi Ould Tah was elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) during the annual meetings on May 29, 2025. Outshining Zambian candidate Samuel Maimbo with more than 76% of the regional and non-regional votes, Ould Tah has become the 9th President of the AfDB, succeeding Akinwumi Adesina.

Commanding over 72% of regional votes, Ould Tah secured majority support among the bank's 81 member countries. Prior to his election, he served as President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). With nearly 30 years of experience in development financing, he garnered support from several African and Arabic countries, including Djibouti.

Ould Tah's campaign was distinctive for its focus on strengthening financial resource mobilization, notably by forging partnerships with Gulf countries. He stressed the need to turn AfDB into a crucial driver of African economic transformation.

His presidential agenda includes creating jobs for young people and women, investing in fragile areas, developing human capital, ensuring universal access to energy, reinforcing agricultural value chains, and promoting transcontinental trade integration.

Ould Tah has also advocated for a more proactive AfDB on the international stage, capable of sourcing significant resources and managing them efficiently to respond to Africans' needs.

His election comes at a critical juncture for Africa, as the continent faces major hurdles such as debt crisis, climate change, and the need to reignite economic growth. There are high expectations for Ould Tah's ability to infuse a new vigor into AfDB and contribute to the continent's sustainable development.