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As the African Development Bank (AfDB) prepares to elect its next president during its annual meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire this Thursday, five contenders are in the running to steer Africa’s premier development finance institution into its next chapter. Against a backdrop of declining concessional financing, global aid cuts, and volatile borrowing costs, the bank’s $318 billion capital base has become a critical instrument for driving Africa’s transformation.
Here’s a closer look at the candidates and their visions for the future of the AfDB:
1. Swazi Tshabalala Bajabulile (South Africa)
Former AfDB Senior Vice President
The sole female candidate, Tshabalala brings over 30 years of banking experience and a reputation for institutional reform. She proposes restructuring the bank’s internal architecture to enhance delivery on infrastructure—Africa’s long-standing development bottleneck.
“The current setup does not enable sustained focus on high-impact infrastructure. We must consolidate to deliver better,” she noted.
Tshabalala also aims to introduce innovative financial instruments, building on the bank’s progress in hybrid capital, to unlock Africa’s potential in trade, minerals, and capital markets.
2. Amadou Hott (Senegal)
Former Minister of Economy; Investment Banker
With a robust career spanning from Lagos to London, Hott is pushing for African financial self-reliance. His focus is on revenue mobilization and project development that attracts and retains private capital within the continent.
“The money is out there. We must structure bankable projects that de-risk investment,” he emphasized.
Hott points to Africa’s low tax-to-GDP ratio (16%)—far below the OECD average of 34%—as a key area for reform, which could boost credit ratings and reduce debt costs.
3. Samuel Munzele Maimbo (Zambia)
World Bank Vice President (on leave)
Maimbo brings a pan-African, systems-level perspective with three decades of development finance experience. He advocates for inter-African trade integration, regulatory harmonization, and fixing the “financial plumbing” to enable seamless capital flow.
“Only 15% of African trade happens within the continent. We must fix that to stop undervaluing our own goods,” he said.
Backed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and COMESA, Maimbo proposes a continent-wide approach to fiscal governance, infrastructure, and debt sustainability.
4. Sidi Ould Tah (Mauritania)
President, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
Tah’s candidacy emphasizes economic sovereignty and inclusive growth. With a decade at the helm of a regional development bank, he calls for breaking legacy constraints to enable AfDB to mobilize broader capital and formalize the informal sector, which employs over 83% of Africa’s workforce.
“With strategic partnerships, every $1 raised can be multiplied tenfold for productive use,” he asserted.
His platform includes financial system reform, climate-resilient infrastructure, and leveraging demographic dividendsthrough job formalization and skills development.
5. Abbas Mahamat Tolli (Chad)
Former Central Banker and Finance Minister
Tolli offers a vision grounded in self-sufficiency and governance reform. Drawing on a career that includes leadership at the Development Bank of Central African States, he emphasizes tackling fiscal mismanagement, resource leakage, and inefficient spending.
“Africa loses significant resources through financial misgovernance. Better management is key,” he stated.
Tolli proposes a complete overhaul of AfDB’s operational model, involving risk-pooling mechanisms, enhanced public-private partnerships, and digitization of financial systems.
His personal journey—from fleeing civil war at age 6 to holding top financial roles—gives his candidacy a compelling narrative of resilience and insight.
As Africa navigates an era of fiscal constraints and unprecedented development demands, the next AfDB president will play a pivotal role in shaping the continent’s financial architecture, regulatory alignment, and investment prioritiesfor years to come.
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