AfDB: Sidi Ould Tah unveils 100-day agenda to mobilise capital

The African Development Bank (AfDB) on Monday, September 1, 2025, sworn in its 9th president, Sidi Ould Tah, with a call to implement urgent reforms aimed at accelerating financing, deepening partnerships, and unlocking Africa's industrial potential.

In his inaugural address, Dr Tah outlined four priorities for his first 100 days: engaging AfDB shareholders and staff to align on core goals, launching a fast-track reform agenda to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks, strengthening ties with African and global institutions to mobilise capital, and expanding access to finance to create jobs, empower women and youth, and build resilient industries.

Sidi Ould Tah elected AfDB's 9th president

“Who will be the bar that bridges divides between vision and execution, between public and private, between urgency and bureaucracy? Together, let us transform Africa’s promise into prosperity,” he stated.

Tah reiterated that the Bank will be “attentive, responsive, and capable of setting priorities that matter.”

He also highlighted the presence of leaders from major global finance coalitions, including Rémy Rioux of Finance in Common, Sumayla Sebe of the Alliance of African Financial Institutions, Serge Leclerc of the International Development Finance Club, and Abdullah El-Zaibih of the Arab Coordination Group.

Dr Tah, elected in May with the support of 76.18% of the Bank’s 81 member countries, previously served as chief executive officer of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and as Mauritania’s Minister of Finance.

Today, I took the oath of office, as the 9th President of the @AfDB_Group.

It is my distinct honour to serve our continent. Let us move forward together - with urgency, with unity, and with unwavering accountability.

The time for delivery has begun. pic.twitter.com/9QFjhMqjTy

— AfDB President (@AfDBPresident) September 1, 2025

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