Meet Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, AfDB President-elect

Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, a seasoned Mauritanian economist and development expert, has been elected as the ninth President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

His appointment was confirmed by the Bank’s Board of Governors during its Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

He is set to take over the position on September 1, 2025, following the end of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s decade-long presidency.

Background

Born on December 31, 1964, in Mederdra, Mauritania, Dr. Ould Tah has cultivated a distinguished academic and professional journey.

He earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Nice-Sophia-Antipolis University in France, complemented by a D.E.A (Master’s degree) in Economics from Paris VII University and a Bachelor’s in Economics from Nouakchott University.

A polyglot fluent in Arabic, French, and English, he also received executive training from globally recognized institutions such as Harvard Institute for International Development, London Business School, and the Swiss Finance Institute.

Career path and public service

Dr. Ould Tah began his career in banking and finance, first at the Mauritanian Bank for Development and Commerce (BMDC) and later as a financial analyst at the Food Security Commission.

His trajectory included managing finance for the Municipality of Nouakchott and serving in leadership roles at the Nouakchott Port Authority.

He expanded his regional footprint as a Financial Analyst at the Arab Authority for Agriculture, Investment and Development (AAAID) in Khartoum, Sudan, before joining the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), where he worked in investment promotion and later as a senior advisor to the President.

Between 2006 and 2008, Dr. Ould Tah advised both the Mauritanian President and Prime Minister.

In 2008, he was appointed as Mauritania’s Minister of Economy and Finance, and later as Minister of Economic Affairs and Development.

Leadership roles

Throughout his career, Dr. Ould Tah has held numerous high-level leadership positions. These include:

• Chair of the 37th Board of Governors Meeting of BADEA in 2012
• President of the 93rd Economic and Social Council session of the League of Arab States in 2014
• Chair of the Council of Ministers of the G5-Sahel between 2014 and 2015
•  Mauritania’s representative on the boards of major international financial institutions, including the World Bank (IBRD), IFC, MIGA, IFAD, IsDB, and AfDB
• Head of the National Statistics Council in Mauritania

AfDB leadership

With over three decades of experience in economic development, finance, and international cooperation, Dr. Ould Tah is well-positioned to lead the African Development Bank Group through a new chapter.

His broad background in both public sector governance and multilateral finance is expected to bring fresh energy and continuity to the bank’s mission of promoting sustainable economic growth and reducing poverty across Africa.