The African Development Bank (AfDB) holds its presidential elections today during its Annual General Meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with Zambia’s Samuel Maimbo among the frontrunners vying for the continent’s top development finance position.
Maimbo, a highly acclaimed economist and former Vice President of the World Bank, has emerged as a strong contender following endorsements from both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The regional blocs have thrown their weight behind him as their preferred candidate to lead the Bank through its next chapter.
His vision for the AfDB includes deepening intra-African trade through the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), expanding infrastructure to support economic connectivity and industrial growth, and modernizing agriculture to strengthen food security and create jobs across the continent.
Maimbo joins a competitive field that includes Amadou Hott of Senegal, Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania, Abbas Mahamat Tolli of Chad, and Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala of South Africa.
By Rachel Mumba
