The African Development Bank (AfDB) has officially begun the process of electing its next president, with five candidates approved to contest in the election scheduled for May 29, 2025.
This follows a two-day meeting of the Steering Committee of the Board of Governors at the bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where the final list of contenders was released.
The approved candidates are:
Mr Hott Amadou (Senegal)
Dr Maimbo Munzele (Zambia)
Mr Tah Ould (Mauritania)
Mr Tolli Mahamat (Chad)
Ms Tshabalala Swazi (South Africa)
The winner will succeed Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who has led the AfDB since 2015, driving major reforms and steering the bank through global economic challenges.
With each candidate bringing a unique vision, the election is expected to shape the bank’s role in Africa’s economic growth, infrastructure development, and climate resilience efforts.
Meanwhile, at a high-level ministerial roundtable in Casablanca, AfDB’s Director of Regional Integration, Dr Joy Kategekwa, highlighted the need for deeper economic collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). She noted that AfCFTA could boost intra-African trade by 52% by 2035, spurring industrialisation and job creation.
The ministerial roundtable, organised by the African Leadership Organisation, brought together ministers, private sector leaders, and financial experts to discuss strategies for strengthening trade and infrastructure across the continent.