Analysis & Opinions
Who will be the Next African Development Bank President 2025
The search for the next African Development Bank (AfDB) President (2025) is gathering momentum.
The current AFDB President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, serving his second five-year term, will step down on August 31, 2025. Under his administration, the AfDB has primarily prioritized boosting economic and social development on the continent.
Established in 1964, the African Development Bank promotes economic and social progress in African countries by providing loans, grants, technical assistance, and policy advice to its 54 regional members and 27 non-regional donor members.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) will elect its next President during the Board of Governors Annual Meeting in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on May 29, 2025.This election comes as Dr Adesina’s tenure ends on August 31, 2025. There are five (5) candidates seeking to take over from Adesina. They include include:
| AFDB 2025 Candidates | Current / Previous Key Role(s) | Strength | Endorsement |
| Amadou Hott (Senegal) | Former Minister of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation (2019 – 2022)Former Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate, and Green Growth (AFDB) | Climate finance expertise, strong AfDB institutional experience | Popular within West African blocs and francophone countries |
| Sidi Ould Tah (Mauritania) | Former President – Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) | Pan-African development finance | Publicly backed by President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire. Also endorsed by prominent AfDB figures like Frannie Leautier |
| Abbas Mahamat Tolli (Chad) | Former Governor – Bank of Central African States (BEAC) (2017-2024) | Strong macroeconomic governance, central banking authority | Backed by the Chadian government |
| Bajabulile “Swazi” Tshabalala (South Africa) | Former Senior Vice President – AfDB (until Jan 2024) | Private sector–public sector bridge, capital markets innovation | Backed by South Africa |
| Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo (Zambia) | Vice President, Budget, Performance Review & Strategic Planning – World Bank | World Bank institutional knowledge, strategic budgeting expertise | Supported by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc |
How is the AfDB President Elected?
- Voting Power: Based on shareholding (Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Algeria, the US, Germany, and Japan are top contributors).
- Term Limits: One 5-year term, renewable once (max 10 years).
- Election Location: AfDB Headquarters (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire).
African Development Bank (AfDB) Presidential Election: Process & Timeline (2025)
The election for the next President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) follows a structured process involving member countries, regional rotations, and high-stakes lobbying.
Here’s a breakdown of how it works
- Step 1: Nominations Open (Early 2025): Member country nominate candidate(s)
- Step 2: Lobbying & Campaigning (Q1–Q2 2025):
- Contenders tour major capitals (Abuja, Berlin, Washington & Tokyo) to secure votes.
- Power Brokers: Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, the US, Germany, Japan, and South Africa hold sway.
- Step 3: Voting at AfDB Annual Meetings (May 29 2025)
- Location: Held at AFDB Head Office, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Voting System:
- Weighted voting (based on shareholding).
- Majority required: 50%+ of total votes + 50%+ of regional (African) votes.
- Step 4: Announcement & Handover (August 2025). The winner is declared and takes office on September 1, 2025. The outgoing President (Dr Adesina) assists in the transition.
| Date | Event |
| Jan 31, 2025 | Nominations Closed, deadline for submission of candidate names by member countries |
| Feb – Mar 2025 | Candidate Screening, AfDB internal committee verifies qualifications and eligibility |
| April 2025 | Official Campaign Period, Lobbying, debates, and behind-the-scenes deals |
| May 29, 2025 | Election Day, voting by the Board of Governors to select the new President |
| Sept 1, 2025 | Official Start Date, newly elected President assumes office for a five-year term (renewable once) |
Who Decides? Voting Power Breakdown
AFDB Board of Governors is the AfDB’s highest decision-making body. It includes the Finance Ministers or Central Bank Governors from the Bank’s shareholder countries. The board is solely responsible for electing the President.
The AfDB uses a weighted voting system based on capital contributions:
Top Regional Members (Africa)
- Nigeria: 8.7%
- Egypt: 6.3%
- Algeria: 5.3%
- South Africa: 5.03%
Top Non-Regional Members (Outside Africa)
- The United States: 6.5%
- Japan: 5.4%
- Germany: 4.1%
Key Rule: The winner must secure:
- Majority of total votes (50%+).
- Majority of regional (African) votes (ensures African control).
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, a candidate must:
- Be a national of an AfDB member state
- Have extensive experience in development finance or economic management
- Possess a record of high-level leadership in a national or multilateral institution
- Commit to AfDB’s mission of sustainable and inclusive development in Africa
Key AFDB Members Preference
Regional Shareholders
- West Africa: As the most significant African shareholder, Nigeria prefers candidates who prioritize infrastructure financing.
- East Africa: Countries like Kenya and Ethiopia prefer candidates with experience working at the United Nations or World Bank.
- Southern Africa: Southern African countries like candidates who would emphasize infrastructure growth and fiscal discipline.
Non-Regional Shareholders
- US and Japan: Favour candidates with anti-corruption credentials and global development expertise.
- France and Germany: Support contenders who would advocate stronger climate-focused policies.
Key Issues at Stake in the 2025 AfDB Presidential Election
As the African Development Bank (AfDB) prepares to elect a new president in May 2025, it must address key issues. These include infrastructure spending to promote trade, youth job creation and others. However, the number one issue troubling the AFDB is “Debt Distress.”
Several African countries are facing severe debt distress due to:
- High Debt Levels: African governments borrow heavily in foreign currencies (USD, Euro, CNY) from China, the IMF, and the World Bank.
- Economic Shocks: Many African economies rely on exporting raw materials (oil & agricultural products). When prices drop ( 2014–2016 & 2020 oil price crash), revenues shrink.
- Weak Domestic Revenue: Low tax collection due to large informal economies and tax evasion.
- High public spending: Many African governments spend much on subsidies and public wages without corresponding revenue.
- High Interest Rates: The US Federal Reserve and other major central banks have raised interest rates to curb inflation, making debt servicing more expensive for African countries with Eurobonds.
- Political Instability: Conflicts and tensions in areas like Sudan, the Sahel, and the Magreb disrupt economic activities, causing the areas to borrow for security.
Consequences of Debt Distress
- Default Risk: Zambia (2020), Ghana (2022), and Ethiopia (2023)
- Austerity Measures: Governments cut social spending (health, education) to service debts, fueling public unrest.
- Reduced Investment: High debt discourages investment in Africa, slowing economic growth.
Solutions Being Pursued
- Debt Restructuring: G20 Common Framework for Zambia & Ghana.
- IMF Bailouts: Ghana’s $3B IMF program in 2023.
- Domestic Revenue Enhancement: Tax Reform Bills in Nigeria.
Previous Presidents of the African Development Bank
| # | President | Country | Term | Key Achievements & Legacy |
| 1 | Mamoun Beheiry | Sudan | 1964-1970 |
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| 2 | Abdelwahab Labidi | Tunisia | 1970-1976 |
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| 3 | Kwame D. Fordwor | Ghana | 1976-1979 |
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| 4 | Willa Mung’omba | Zambia | 1979-1985 |
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| 5 | Babacar Ndiaye | Senegal | 1985-1995 |
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| 6 | Omar Kabbaj | Morocco | 1995-2005 |
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| 7 | Donald Kaberuka | Rwanda | 2005-2015 |
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| 8 | Akinwumi Adesina | Nigeria | 2015-2025 |
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