- The African Development Bank has released the list of candidates contesting to become its next president
- The list has four men and a woman from different African countries
- The winner of the May 29 election will take over from Dr Akinwumi Adesina
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has released the list of candidates contesting to become its next president in the upcoming election scheduled for May 29.
The list of candidates was approved and announced after a two-day meeting of the Steering Committee of the Board of Governors at the bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The announcement, contained in a statement on its website on Friday, February 21, marks the official commencement of the process to elect its next president.
According to the statement, the candidates cleared to run for the top position include Mr Hott Amadou from Senegal, Dr Maimbo Munzele from Zambia, Mr Tah Ould from Mauritania, Mr Tolli Mahamat from Chad, and Ms Tshabalala Swazi from South Africa.
“The Steering Committee of the Board of Governors on the Election of the President of the African Development Bank met on 11 and 12 February 2025 at the Bank Group’s headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
“The Steering Committee, after examining the candidatures, cleared the following list of candidates for the office of the President of the African Development Bank during the next election to be held on 29 May 2025: 1) Mr HOTT Amadou, Senegal; 2) Dr MAIMBO Samuel Munzele, Zambia; 3) Mr TAH Sidi Ould, Mauritania; 4) Mr TOLLI Abbas Mahamat, Chad; and 5) Ms TSHABALALA Bajabulile Swazi, South Africa,” the statement read.
AfDB searches for Adesina’s successor
AfDB said each of the candidates brings a distinct background and vision. This sets the stage for a competitive election that will determine the leadership of Africa’s premier development finance institution.
Whoever emerges as the winner of the May 29 election will succeed AfDB’s current president, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who has saddled the leadership of the bank since 2015.
Adesina secured nearly 60 per cent of the votes cast by AfDB’s Board of Governors during the 2015 election.
He scaled six rounds of voting to land the role and defeated seven other contenders from across the continent.
Under Adesina, the AfDB oversaw significant reforms, navigating the bank through challenging global economic conditions.
The outcome of the election is expected to have far-reaching implications for Africa’s economic growth, infrastructure development, and climate resilience efforts, among others.
AfDB says African countries need $74 billion to service debts in 2024
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the African Development Bank (AfDB) said African countries need $74 billion to service debts in 2024.
Chief Economist and Vice-President of Economic Governance and Knowledge Management of AfDB, Professor Kevin Urama, stated this at the launch of Debt Management Forum for Africa (DeMFA) and its inaugural policy dialogue, held in Abuja on Monday, December 16.
