Zambia’s Maimbo to contend with South Africa’s Swazi, Senegal’s Amadou, two others as AfDB presidency race nears

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has reportedly cleared five candidates to contest its upcoming presidential election, including Zambia’s Samuel Munzele Maimbo

The other contenders are Hott Amadou (Senegal), Tah Ould (Mauritania), Tolli Mahamat (Chad), and Tshabalala Swazi (South Africa).

In a statement on Monday, the AfDB announced that the candidates had been approved by the Bank’s Steering Committee after successfully undergoing the evaluation and qualification process.

With current AfDB president, Akinwumi Adesina, set to leave office in May 2025, the election would determine the institution’s next leader, who would either continue Adesina’s legacy or introduce new policy directions.

Read more: SADC, COMESA regional leaders reaffirm support for Maimbo’s candidacy ahead of AfDB presidential elections

“The Steering Committee of the Board of Governors on the Election of the President of the African Development Bank convened on February 11 and 12, 2025, at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan.

“After a thorough review of the candidatures, the Steering Committee has cleared the following candidates for the presidential election scheduled for May 29, 2025,” the AfDB stated.

The AfDB presidency was a crucial role, overseeing Africa’s economic development and financial stability.

The election process is led by the Board of Governors, comprising representatives from the Bank’s member countries.

Regional economic blocs such as ECOWAS, SADC, and COMESA are expected to play a significant role in influencing the election outcome, especially when one of their members was in contention.

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