Sidi Ould Tah: Africa's New 'Super Banker'
Sidi Ould Tah is the first Mauritanian to become president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and will need all his international experience to tackle the challenges facing the institution.
The 60-year-old economist was the last to declare his candidacy for the post and ran a whirlwind campaign during which he highlighted his 10 years as head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
He claimed to have transformed it from an institution "unknown to rating agencies" to one of the highest-rated development organisations in Africa.
"I have demonstrated my transformative leadership style that has elevated the bank to the level of a leading player in the African development landscape," he said in his application statement to the AfDB.
A discreet man who speaks sparingly, his style will be a clear contrast with his flamboyant predecessor, Nigeria's Akinwumi Adesina.
Tah's programme is based on four main points: strengthening regional financial institutions; asserting Africa's financial independence in global markets; leveraging demographic dynamics as a development tool; and building resilient infrastructure to climate change.
His entourage is touting his ability to replicate his successes at the BADEA at a larger institution like the AfDB, which has $318 billion in capital.
"The AfDB has to abandon traditional bureaucratic models for a more fluid approach based on results," he said.
Tah, who was Mauritania's economy minister from 2008 to 2015, is calling for a "break with the approaches of the past", in a world where the "challenges and opportunities of Africa have taken a new dimension".
The new AfDB president speaks French, English, Arabic and Wolof, which is spoken in several west African countries.
He managed the impressive feat of rallying diplomatically diverse supporters behind his candidacy, from Sahel countries such as Mali to France.
His score of more than 72 percent among African voters gives him continental legitimacy. His entourage claimed before the vote he had support from the very first round from all African regions.
US President Donald Trump's administration has vowed to suspend $500 million in aid to the AfDB, but Tah has argued other financial backers such as Gulf countries could step in.
On environmental questions, he intends to promote Africa's natural resources to move towards a "viable energy transition, reconciling economic and environmental imperatives".
"Even though Africa is a minimal contributor to global CO2 emissions, it bears the full brunt of the effects of climate change," he said.
"It is therefore imperative to integrate sustainable practices and to harness renewable energy in development projects."
Tah holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Nouakchott in his native Mauritania and a doctorate from the University of Nice in France.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
a day ago
- DW
Shangri-La Dialogue: Macron seeks new EU-Asia alliance – DW – 05/30/2025
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for unity in the face of China-Russian desires to create "spheres of coercion." He delivered his plea at the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore. French President Emmanuel Macron opened the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual defense and security conference held in Singapore, with a keynote address on Friday that was laced with calls for European and Asian countries to form an alliance against what he described as "spheres of coercion" sought by some major powers — a veiled reference to China and Russia. Macron's comments came as Moscow thumbs its nose at the West by ignoring international outcry and calls for an end to its invasion of Ukraine, and concerns grow that China may make good on its threat to take control of Taiwan as it continues to assert its strength in the South China Sea. "We have a challenge of revisionist countries that want to impose… under the name of spheres of influence… spheres of coercion," said Macron. "Countries that want to control areas from the fringes of Europe to the archipelagos in the South China Sea... that want to appropriate resources, whether fishing or mineral, and crowd out others for their benefit," he continued. Macron's speech came on the heels of a tour of Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore in which the French politician sought to present his country as a reliable defense and business partner for countries caught between the US and China. Both Washington and Beijing have exasperated regional leaders who must navigate US President Donald Trump's ceaseless tariff threats and Chinese President Xi Jinping's carrot and stick approach to cooperation. China threat set to dominate Singapore security talks To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Rising tension between the two has only made life more difficult for countries in the region, prompting Macron to urge countries to "build a positive new alliance between Europe and Asia, based on our common norms, on our common principles." "Our shared responsibility is to ensure with others that our countries are not collateral victims of the imbalances linked to the choices made by the superpowers," Macron said. The French president also used his speech to warn against complacency among those present when it comes to support for Ukraine, which many might think matters less to the region due to the fact that it may seem a far-away problem. "If we consider that Russia could be allowed to take a part of the territory of Ukraine without any restriction, without any constraint, without any reaction of the global order," he said, adding: "How would you phrase what could happen in Taiwan? What would you do the day something happens in the Philippines?" Although regional democracies like Australia, Japan and South Korea have actively supported Ukraine, China and North Korea have helped keep Moscow's war going with financial and material support — with Pyongyang even sending troops to the front lines. EU seeks solid, amicable business and defense partnerships in Asia France recently stressed the need to "preserve a rules-based international order" in the face of "China's increasing power and territorial claims" and Beijing's seesawing competition with the US in its latest Indo-Pacific strategy paper. Although EU countries have tended to focus on their business ties to nations in the region, they have also participated in numerous freedom of navigation exercises in the face of China's growing military assertiveness. After meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Martin Wong earlier on Friday, Macron said: "We are neither China nor the US, we don't want to depend on either of them." "We want to cooperate with both as far as we can, and we can cooperate for growth and prosperity and stability for our people and the world order, and I think this is exactly the same view of a lot of countries and a lot of people of this region," he added." Wong agreed, saying, "We want to embrace comprehensive engagement with all parties and embrace win-win arrangements rather than zero-sum competition." China breaks tradition, sends low-level representatives to conference The Shangri-La Dialogue, which is hosted by the International Institute for Security Studies (IISS) and runs through Sunday, was first held in 2002 and facilitates high-level meetings between defense ministers from across the globe. It has also long been seen as a barometer for US-China relations. Moreover, it has offered a rare opportunity for US and Chinese defense ministers to meet face-to-face. This year, however, Beijing has not dispatched its defense minister, but rather a senior official from the People's Liberation Army's National Defense University. US-China tensions test ties between ASEAN members To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Concerns about US commitment to the Indo-Pacific Leaders in the region have also been uneasy regarding US commitments since Donald Trump returned to office in January. Not only has Trump turned global stock markets on their head as he pursues his trade war with Beijing, he has also punished allies in the region with massive tariffs as well. Furthermore, there is concern over Washington's commitment to defend Taiwan. Before departing for Singapore, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters: "We seek no conflict with anybody, including the Communist Chinese. We will stay strong for our interests. And that's a big part of what this trip is all about." The US views China's failure to send high-level representatives as a potential opening, with Hegseth saying, "We can't account for whether China engages or not. All we know is that we're here. And we will be here." Who will blink first in US-China trade war? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The trip is Hegseth's second to the region since his appointment. In March, he traveled to the Philippines and Japan. It is unclear if his visits will be enough to ease regional concerns over Trump's willingness to stand by their side in the face of Chinese saber-rattling. The US leader has so far projected a straight-up transactional — if not to say coercive — approach to relations, as well as an attitude averse to foreign engagement despite Washington's pursuit of a "free and open Indo-Pacific." US, China and Ukraine not the only security issues being discussed Although Macron's Friday speech emphasized the importance of European and Asian commitments to cooperation and unity when it comes to trade, defense and Ukraine, those are not the only issues that will be addressed at the three-day event. Among the raft of other pressing issues the conference will address are the continuing civil war in Myanmar (ongoing since May 2021) and the outbreak of violence between Thailand and Cambodia this week in a border skirmish. Perhaps gravest of all, however, is the flare-up in tensions between India and Pakistan in Kashmir. Kashmir residents still wary of India-Pakistan ceasefire To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Although a truce has been declared in the current conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors, dozens of people have been killed by gunfire, missile strikes and drone attacks as the two nations engage in their most serious military confrontation in decades. Neither India nor Pakistan have sent defense ministers to Singapore, opting instead to dispatch senior military delegations. No meetings are scheduled to take place between the two. Edited by: Zac Crellin
Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Int'l Business Times
Navalny Widow, Media Watchdog To Launch TV Channel
The widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and Reporters Without Borders will launch a television channel to "promote free speech in Russia", the press freedom advocacy group said on Friday. The channel, named Future of Russia, will be broadcast via the Svoboda Satellite project, which is available across Russia, Reporters Without Borders said. The channel will launch on Wednesday, June 4, the day Navalny would have turned 49. In March, the media watchdog, known by its French acronym RSF, launched a package of satellite news channels catering to Russia, much of it produced by Russian journalists forced to leave the country after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The Svoboda package is available to 4.5 million households in Russia and around 800,000 households in occupied Ukraine, according to Reporters Without Borders. Jim Phillipoff, project director of Svoboda Satellite, said cooperation was first proposed by Navalny's right-hand man Leonid Volkov. "Then we jointly created this concept," he told AFP. "But only recently did we receive the funding to make it possible," Phillipoff added. "Because there is no independent news in Russia it is all the more important to have alternative viewpoints," he said. He said that Russia relied on satellite for about 45 percent of television reception. "The majority of the satellite signals are provided through the French company, Eutelsat, our partner in this project," he added. The charismatic Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's main opponent, suddenly died in an Arctic penal colony on February 16, 2024. His family and supporters say he was killed on orders from Putin. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has vowed to continue Navalny's fight from exile. Navalny had been a thorn in the Kremlin's side for a decade by probing corruption among officials and leading large protests throughout Russia. He peppered the internet with slickly produced videos, all beginning with his laconic catchphrase "Privet, eto Navalny!" ("Hi, this is Navalny!"). "We will use much of the content that they are currently producing for their YouTube channels, Popular Politics, Navalny Live, Alexei Navalny and others," Phillipoff said, referring to the late politician's team in exile. "We are also discussing ideas for exclusive content for the channel, but we don't produce any content ourselves." After Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has outlawed all forms of public dissent and banned independent media. With all top Kremlin critics either behind bars or in exile, Navalny's legacy has been fading in Russia. Alexei Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has vowed to continue his fight from exile AFP
Local Germany
a day ago
- Local Germany
What to study in Germany to land a high-paying career
Most German universities offer high quality teaching, world-class facilities, courses in English, and internationally recognised degrees. Tuition is also state funded at Germany's public universities and colleges. The only additional charge for non-EU/EEA international students is a small 'semester fee' of between €100 and €300. That is except in the state of Baden-Württemberg -- home to Heidelberg University -- which levies a fee of €1,500 per semester on non-EU/EEA students. But which courses, and universities, offer the best prospect of a high-flying career? It's no big secret that to land a high-paying job in Germany, you'd be well advised to study something in the field of engineering or IT. In an effort to advise the next generation of skilled workers who may want to emigrate to Germany, the Nigerian newspaper Vanguard recently compiled a list of the top courses to study with high employment opportunities in the country. Unsurprisingly, six out of ten of those subjects fell into the IT or engineering fields. But arguably as important as picking the right subject to study is picking the right university. After all, the school you enrol in determines the quality of your courses as well as the peers you're exposed to, and often also the opportunities you'll get upon graduation. With all of that in mind, here's The Local's guide to the subjects that are ideal for those looking to secure a well-paid job in Germany after their studies -- and a few of the top German institutions for studying them. READ ALSO: The best-paid jobs you can get without a university degree in Germany Note that the institutions listed here are internationally recognised in the fields indicated, but they're only the tip of the iceberg. With roughly 400 universities and technical colleges, Germany has something to offer everyone. Visit the DAAD website for a comprehensive overview. All salary estimates are from Payscale . Engineering A recognised global centre of excellence for all things engineering, Germany is home to industrial giants including Siemens, Bosch, Volkswagen, and BMW. Graduates in engineering from universities including the Technical University (TU) of Munich, RWTH Aachen University, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are at the heart of Germany's energy transition, as well as numerous new developments in automation. Advertisement Courses in mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, automotive engineering and environmental engineering place a strong emphasis on research, design, and real-world applications. An engineer works in the clean room of the pilot production plant for SOEC electrolyzers of Thyssenkrupp. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Martin Schutt According to Payscale, the average salary for an engineer in Germany in 2025 ranges from €44,000 for an environmental engineer to €57,000 for an automotive engineer. TU Berlin, the University of Erlangen Nuremberg, and TU Dresden are particularly well-regarded for electrical engineering. For budding automotive engineers, TU Munich, the University of Stuttgart, and Wolfsburg University of Applied Sciences have strong connections with BMW, Mercedes Benz, and VW respectively – offering access to potential internships and entry-level positions. READ ALSO: Weimar to Heidelberg - The best German university towns for foreign students Computer science, IT, and machine learning Advertisement Like engineering, computer science is a catch-all term covering a range of university courses and an even greater variety of career opportunities, from IT and AI to cybersecurity and software development. Germany is currently investing heavily in digitalisation and AI across sectors including finance, logistics and health – and leading universities typically partner with start-ups and multinationals to provide hands on experience as well as pathways into rewarding tech roles. According to Payscale, the average salary for a computer scientist in Germany is currently €55,000. According to the Study in Germany website, TU Munich, TU Berlin, RWTH Aachen University, the University of Munich, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are the top five institutions in Germany for a degree in computer science. Architecture There are times when it feels as if all of Germany is a building site. With ambitious plans to add to the country's housing stock, as well as to modernise and re-purpose existing buildings, there are numerous opportunities for ambitious young architects. Graduates who want to work abroad will also benefit from the focus at German universities on green design, urban planning, and energy efficiency. Arch20 has a useful list of the top ten architecture schools in Germany, featuring Weimar University, Brandenburg University, and Wuppertal University. The average salary for an architect in Germany is €39,000. Business Administration & Management As with engineering and computer science, German universities offering business administration courses make a point of encouraging students to gain as much hands-on experience as possible. Advertisement Courses typically begin by covering the basics of economics, marketing, and accounting, before offering students an opportunity to focus on a specific area. The University of Mannheim, the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, and the School of Business & Economics at Berlin's Free University are all renowned for their business administration courses. Payscale estimates that the average salary for business administration graduates in Germany is €55,000 – but, as with many of the jobs listed here, the sky's the limit. Medicine, Healthcare & Psychology Germany is currently suffering from a well-publicised and acute shortage of doctors and healthcare professionals. A strong command of German is required to study many of these subjects in Germany (more so than for subjects such as engineering or computer science), but international students willing and able to make the effort are almost guaranteed to walk into a secure position on graduation. Psychology is currently one of the most popular fields of study in Germany. Photo by Alex Green from Pexels While psychology is currently one of the most popular fields of study in Germany, the number of graduates does not seem to be slowing demand in the workplace. Depending on the area students choose to focus on, a degree in psychology can lead to opportunities across a range of different fields – including healthcare and counselling, as well as jobs in the private sector such as human resources, market research, and marketing. The average wage for psychology graduates varies wildly depending on the chosen career path. As a general rule, however, a career in business tends to attract the highest salary. There are many renowned medical schools in Germany, including Heidelberg University, the Charité in Berlin, and the University of Lübeck. Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich, Humboldt University in Berlin, and the University of Mannheim enjoy similarly stellar reputations for psychology. RANKED: The 'best' universities in Germany for 2025
