On March 13, 2025, Sidi Ould Tah was received by Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso in Oyo, Republic of the Congo. Accompanied by Sid’ Ahmed Ould Bouh, Mauritanian Minister of Economy and Finance, the candidate for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB) secured Brazzaville’s assurance of support for his candidacy. The announcement was made the same day during the 8 PM news broadcast on Congolese national television, which relayed the official message: “Congo supports Mauritania.”
Carrying a message from Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to his counterpart Denis Sassou Nguesso, the Mauritanian Minister of Economy and Finance emphasized the stakes of this election, scheduled for May 29. He reminded that this vote would inevitably lead to the election of an African candidate at the helm of the AfDB.
Currently serving as the president of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Sidi Ould Tah highlights his achievements at the head of this institution, which has tripled its capital and moved from an unrated status when he took office in 2015 to a triple-A rating by the Japanese agency JCR. His track record has earned him the support of a growing number of countries.
Facing Sidi Ould Tah, four other candidates are in the race for the AfDB presidency: Zambian Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo, representing the Southern African Development Community (SADC); South African Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala, former vice president of the AfDB; Senegalese Amadou Hott, also a former vice president of the AfDB; and and Chadian Abbas Mahamat Tolli, former governor of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC).
The election of the new president of the AfDB, scheduled for May 29, 2025, is of crucial importance for the future of the institution, which plays a key role in financing Africa’s economic development. The candidates will have to present their vision and strategies to the AfDB’s Board of Governors, composed of representatives from 81 member countries, including 54 African nations and 27 non-African states.
