The African Development Bank (AfDB) has officially announced the list of candidates vying for the presidency, marking the start of a competitive race to lead the continent’s largest financial institution.
In a statement released after a two-day meeting at the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, the Board of Governors’ Steering Committee confirmed the confirmation of five candidates to run in the upcoming elections scheduled for May 29.
The candidates include Hott Amadou (Senegal), Dr. Maimbo Munzele (Zambia), Tah Ould (Mauritania), Tolli Mahamat (Chad) and Tshabalala Swazi (South Africa). Each candidate brings different experience and expertise, setting the stage for a closely watched election.
The winner will replace Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who has led the bank since 2015 and overseen major reforms amid global economic challenges. The election result is expected to have a significant impact on Africa’s development agenda, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, economic growth and climate resilience.