By Enyichukwu Enemanna
In the run-up to the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB), a frontline contender, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, a Mauritanian national has received groundswell of support to succeed Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adeshina in the top leadership of the pan-African development bank.
The latest support is coming from the Republic of Benin, which has pledged its backing for Tah, a former Minister of Economy and Finance and later Minister of Economic Affairs and Development in Mauritania.
On Monday, President of the Republic of Benin, Patrice Talon had sent a delegation of top government officials, including the Minister of State in charge of the Coordination of Government Action and Development, Mr. Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, and the Minister of State in charge of Economy and Finance, Mr. Romuald Wadagni to meet with his Mauritanian counterpart, His Excellency Mohamed Cheikh El Ghazouani to express Benin’s support for Tah’s candidacy.
The delegation delivered a personal message to President Ghazouani, assuring the support of his Benin’s counterpart, President Talon.
Also in attendance at the meeting were the Mauritanian Minister in charge of the Office of the President, Mr. Nani Ould Chrougha, and the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Sid’Ahmed Ould Bough.
The Beninese delegation during the meeting emphasized the excellence of bilateral relations between Benin and Mauritania.
“Our brother Sidi Ould Tah has the profile and the skills required to turn the AfDB into the true development tool the continent needs today. For this reason, we offer him our full support and stand ready to rally all our partners behind this candidacy,” the delegation stated.
The government of Mauritania warmly welcomes this strong and meaningful expression of confidence from the Republic of Benin and its highest authorities.
Benin said the support is a recognition of Dr. Sidi Ould Tah’s track record, commitment, and pan-African vision in service of a more united, more integrated, and more sovereign Africa.
Dr Sidi Ould Tah while accepting the support said: “I am particularly proud of the endorsement from the Republic of Benin, a country whose leadership and commitment to regional cooperation are widely respected.
“This support reinforces my belief that our continent is ready to unite around a shared vision for a stronger, more inclusive African Development Bank, capable of meeting today’s challenges and unlocking Africa’s full potential.”
Sidi Ould Tah has been a player in the top tier of African finance for some time now. For a decade, until April, he led the $20bn Arab Bank for Development in Africa (BADEA), having previously served as minister of economy and finance as well as minister of economic affairs and development in his native Mauritania.
As Akinwumi Adeshina’s second and final tenure comes to an end, Tah has joined the list of contestants for the presidency of AfDB as it chooses a successor on 29 May.
At a recent interview with African Business, Tah said AfDB leadership offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of the continent through the transformational power of the Bank. “It’s about improving lives and livelihoods, and making dreams a reality.”
Seen as vast and highly experienced, he has continued to attract humongous support from stakeholders in the Africa’s business and finance ecosystem.
