Meet the AfDB presidential candidates

As Donald Kaberuka’s 10-year stint at the helm of the African Development Bank (AfDB) draws to a close, all eyes are on the candidates vying to step into his sizeable shoes.

Under Kaberuka’s leadership, which will end on 31^st August, the AfDB has emerged as a highly influential development institution on the continent. The president helped boost funding for large infrastructural projects, enhance transparency in the running of the bank, and oversee much-needed reforms. His predecessor will be expected to continue this upwards trend and ensure the Bank’s 10-year strategy remains on track as well as address various pressing challenges. The process of decentralisation, for example, has been criticised for being overly costly and inefficient, the disbursement of loans often remains a slow process, while the Bank will have to continue to work hard to remain at the forefront of Africa’s transformation.

The eight candidates to be the next president of the AfDB will be interviewed by the Bank’s Board of Governors on 27^th May and elected on 28^th May. The nominees come from across the continent and between them have centuries of experience working in a wide array of development and financial institutions in both the private and public sector.

In order to learn more about the eight individuals that are in the running, African Business asked the candidates the same set of questions about what the future of AfDB would look like under their stewardship. Click on each candidates name for their answers.

Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigeria

Sufian Ahmed, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Ethiopia

Jaloul Ayed, Former Minister of Finance, Tunisia

Kordjé Bedoumra, Minister of Finance and Budget, Chad

Cristina Duarte, Minister of Finance and Planning, Cabo Verde

Samura Kamara, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sierra Leone

Thomas Zondo Sakala, Former Vice president of AfDB, Zimbabwe

Birama Boubacar Sidibé, Vice president of the Islamic Bank of Development, Mali