Mauritanian economist Sidi Ould Tah officially assumed office on 1 September 2025 as the ninth president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), pledging to build a “robust and prosperous Africa.”
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Abidjan, Ould Tah underscored the need to “revisit the investment plan” and “change paradigms” in light of shrinking development aid, mounting debt burdens, and the growing impact of climate change. He emphasised the centrality of partnerships, highlighting cooperation with the French Development Agency (AFD) and other multilateral institutions as key to mobilising resources and advancing a new African financial architecture.
In his inaugural address, Ould Tah stressed the urgency of strengthening AfDB’s capacity to finance infrastructure and climate resilience projects across the continent. Acknowledging that the Bank cannot tackle Africa’s challenges alone, he welcomed closer collaboration with both African and international development banks. He expressed gratitude to Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara for his support during the campaign and to AfDB governors for their confidence in his leadership. Ould Tah succeeds Nigerian Akinwumi Adesina, who had led the Bank since 2015.