African Union, AfDB… : Africa renews its top management
The year 2025 will be marked by the election of the presidents of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). This is an opportunity for ANA to analyze this event through the lens of the candidates' profiles and the challenges ahead.

During the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Heads of State Summit, on February 15-16, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, leaders will select a successor to Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat as president of the AUC. The electoral college will choose between Djiboutian Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Kenyan Raila Odinga, and Malagasy Richard Randriamandrato. Clearly, until 2029, the position will be held by an East African national, in accordance with the rotation principle established by the AU institutional reforms in effect since 2018.
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2005, declared in July 2024 that he is « the only candidate capable of bridging the different regions of Africa, being Francophone, but also Anglophone and Arabophone. » If elected, the 59-year-old plans to « silence the guns [on a continent shaken by multiple crises]. »
Africa must mobilize its own resources to guarantee the financial independence of the African Union
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf will first face Raila Odinga, 79, an iconic figure in Kenyan politics and a staunch Pan-Africanist. This comes as no surprise, given that he is the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, a hero of Kenya’s independence and a strong advocate of Pan-Africanism. With a career marked by a relentless fight for democratization and national unity in Kenya, Raila Odinga envisions a continent built on unity, economic independence, and environmental sustainability. His motto: « Africa must mobilize its own resources to guarantee the financial independence of the African Union. » During his recent visits to North Africa, he emphasized the need to strengthen intra-African cooperation and maximize trade exchanges through the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Malagasy Richard Randriamandrato, on the other hand, wants to « unlock Africa’s economic potential. » The former Malagasy Minister of Foreign Affairs is committed to « taking progressive steps towards total trade liberalization to ensure inclusive economic growth in an Africa where intra-African trade is weak (only 12.6% of total trade on the continent) and lags significantly behind regions like the European Union. » The Malagasy economist and financier aims to strengthen regional economic blocs and reduce foreign influence in Africa’s security affairs.
The election of the AU Commission president is taking place in a context marked by six major challenges
According to observers, the election of the AU Commission president is unfolding against a backdrop of six major challenges: « renewing member states’ commitment to the institution’s shared values; finalizing the policy on task distribution between the AU and regional economic communities; increasing the number of common African positions on key global challenges; adopting a systematic approach to the AU’s strategic partnerships with multilateral and bilateral actors; completing the organization’s financial and institutional reform process; and advancing the development of a ‘citizens’ union,’ as envisioned in Agenda 2063, ‘The Africa We Want,’ the continent’s master plan for the future. »
Network battle at the AfDB
In May 2025, the AfDB will elect its next president to succeed Nigerian Akinwumi Adesina. This is a strategic choice that will shape the continent’s development priorities for the future. The institution is a key pillar of financing in Africa, driven by a hybrid capital model that combines equity and external resources. This model has enabled major achievements, such as the Abidjan-Lagos highway and solar parks in East Africa.
The next AfDB president will tackle poverty reduction, economic diversification, and climate resilience
The next president will need to continue this momentum while addressing critical issues: poverty reduction, economic diversification, and climate resilience. Expectations are high from both African shareholders and international partners, who hold 40% of the capital.
For the upcoming election, consensus suggests the main contenders are Benin’s current Minister of Finance, Romuald Wadagni, and Zambian-born World Bank veteran, Samuel Munzele Maimbo.
Romuald Wadagni is recognized for transforming his country’s economy through structural reforms and rigorous public finance management. Under his leadership, Benin has become the top destination for foreign investments in the sub-region, bolstering its credibility among international investors. Through unprecedented financial operations, Wadagni has placed Benin on the global financial market map.
As for Samuel Munzele Maimbo, an experienced financier with nearly 30 years at the World Bank, he has risen through the ranks from the Young Professionals Program to Vice President for Budget, Performance, and Strategic Planning. Throughout his career, he has led major resource mobilization initiatives for the International Development Association (IDA) and helped shape the institution’s priorities toward impactful global projects, such as combating climate change and poverty. While his candidacy is hindered by his limited command of French, the predominantly Anglophone Zambian may struggle to appeal to AfDB voters, who often favor bilingual candidates deeply rooted in African realities.
This election highlights the persistence of African elites in maintaining their influence and the power of networks
Other candidates have also declared their intentions. Chad’s Abbas Mahamat Tolli, Governor of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), and Senegal’s former Minister of Economy, Amadou Hott, illustrate the enduring influence of African elites. This presents a dilemma for AfDB voters (54 African and 27 non-African countries), who must choose between preserving the old guard or yielding to the power of networks.
Outsider candidates are also in the running. These include Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala from South Africa and Ousmane Mamoudou Kane from Mauritania. Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala, a former AfDB Vice President, and Ousmane Mamoudou Kane, a former Mauritanian Minister of Economic Affairs and Promotion of Productive Sectors, both represent continuity, each with a well-established career in the continent’s economic and administrative circles.
After securing her government’s approval for her candidacy, Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala resigned from her position as Senior Vice President in November 2021 « in accordance with the Bank’s rules and regulations to avoid any potential conflict of interest regarding my candidacy. » She has the support of the AfDB president, who describes her as « a valuable member of the Bank’s leadership team » and commends « her significant contributions to the Bank, particularly in implementing our strategies and operations. » But will that be enough for her to secure the majority of electoral votes in May 2025? That remains the question.
As for Mauritanian Ousmane Mamoudou Kane, he is a former AfDB Vice President in charge of institutional services, where he spent fifteen years. He is known for his commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, emphasized in the AfDB’s 2003-2007 strategic plan, which he helped draft. He has also advocated for improving infrastructure, fostering innovation, and promoting regional integration in his recent statements. According to an August 27, 2024, memo, Kane’s candidacy has garnered strong support from various African and non-African countries…