Who’s poised to succeed Akinwumi Adesina as president of the AfDB?

In the upcoming year, the African Development Bank (AfDB) will undergo the process of electing its next president, with the current officeholder, Akinwumi Adesina, nearing the end of his second term. Although the potential successors to Adesina cannot formally apply until September, and the election won’t occur until early 2025, several candidates are already positioning themselves in what promises to be a pivotal election determining the AfDB’s future trajectory.

Abbas Mahamat Tolli, hailing from Chad and a former governor of the Bank of Central African States, declared his candidacy in March.

Rabah Arezki, holding dual French-Algerian citizenship and a former chief economist of the AfDB, is widely speculated to be entering the fray.

Senegal’s Hassatou Diop N’Sele, presently serving as the bank’s vice-president of finance, emerges as another contender to succeed Adesina.

M’khuzo Mwachande, an investment banker based in Cape Town, highlights the AfDB’s robust performance under Adesina’s stewardship, notably citing the successful capital increase as a significant achievement.

“The AfDB stands on solid financial ground and has maintained an impeccable ‘AAA’ credit rating,” Mwachande affirmed.