As the African Development Bank (AfDB) prepares for a leadership transition, five distinguished candidates from across the continent are contending for the presidency. The election, scheduled for May 29, 2025, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, comes at a pivotal time as the bank faces significant financial pressures, including proposed U.S. funding cuts amounting to $555 million

Meet the Candidates

1. Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa)

The sole female contender, Swazi Tshabalala, brings over 30 years of experience in finance and development. Having served as the AfDB’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, she aims to transform the bank into a more agile and inclusive institution. Her vision focuses on infrastructure development and leveraging innovative financial instruments to unlock Africa’s potential.

2. Amadou Hott (Senegal)

Former Senegalese Minister of Economy and a seasoned banker, Amadou Hott emphasizes African financial self-reliance. He advocates for increased revenue mobilization and the design of projects that retain private capital within the continent. Hott believes that enhancing tax collection and creating well-structured projects can attract private sector investments essential for development.

3. Samuel Munzele Maimbo (Zambia)

Currently serving as a Vice President at the World Bank, Samuel Maimbo has extensive experience in development finance. His candidacy is backed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Maimbo’s platform includes promoting intra-African trade, streamlining regulations, and fostering a unified approach to development across the continent

4. Sidi Ould Tah (Mauritania)

With a decade-long tenure as head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, Sidi Ould Tah focuses on economic sovereignty and climate-resilient infrastructure. He proposes mobilizing broader capital, reforming financial systems, and formalizing Africa’s vast informal sector to drive sustainable development.

5. Abbas Mahamat Tolli (Chad)

Abbas Mahamat Tolli brings a wealth of experience from his roles as Chad’s finance minister and president of the Development Bank of Central African States. He emphasizes self-sufficiency, improved governance, and the digitization of financial mechanisms to reduce resource mismanagement and promote economic stability

The Road Ahead

The incoming president will face immediate challenges, notably addressing the significant funding gap resulting from the proposed U.S. aid reduction. Strategies may include persuading the U.S. to restore funding, seeking contributions from other nations such as China, Saudi Arabia, or the UAE, or increasing funding from African member states.

The election’s outcome will be determined by votes from the AfDB’s 54 African member states and 27 non-African members, with major shareholders like Nigeria, the United States, Egypt, Japan, and France holding significant influence.

As Africa navigates complex development challenges, the leadership of the AfDB will play a crucial role in shaping the continent’s economic future.