Former Mauritanian Economy Minister Sidi Ould Tah has been elected the new President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), succeeding Nigeria’s Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, whose decade-long tenure helped redefine the institution’s role in Africa’s economic landscape.

Tah, 60, secured 76.18% of votes in a decisive third round of voting on Thursday, surpassing the majority thresholds required among both the 81 global member countries and the 54 African nations that make up the bank’s core membership. His election came significantly quicker than that of his predecessor, Adesina, who in 2015 needed six rounds to clinch the role.

Trailing behind Tah were Zambian economist Samuel Munzele Maimbo, who garnered 20.26%, and Senegal’s Amadou Hott, who received 3.55%.

Tah brings over a decade of leadership at the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he oversaw major financing projects across the continent. His regional expertise is expected to help bridge gaps between North African and Sub-Saharan countries within the AfDB’s broad membership base.

“I wish to congratulate Dr. Sidi Ould Tah on his successful election as the President-elect of the African Development Bank Group,” Maimbo said in a concession statement. “I entered this race driven by love and deep concern for our continent, and offered a vision for Africa’s future.”

Tah assumes leadership of the AfDB at a critical juncture, with the institution facing growing challenges—including the withdrawal of U.S. financial support, mounting climate threats, and the need for increased infrastructure resilience and regional economic integration.

In his pitch for the presidency, Tah outlined an ambitious agenda: enhancing Africa’s financial sovereignty on global markets, investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, leveraging population growth for development, and strengthening regional financial institutions.