Afdb Presidency: Abbass Mahamat Tolli, Chadian Economist Seeks to Make History

As the May 2025 election for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB) approaches, the race to succeed Akinwumi Adesina is heating up. Among the leading candidates is Abbass Mahamat Tolli, a Chadian economist and former Governor of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), who declared his candidacy in February 2024.

Abbass Mahamat Tolli: Background

Abbass Mahamat Tolli is a seasoned economist and financial expert with extensive experience in regional and international finance. From 2017 to 2023, he served as the Governor of BEAC, which oversees the monetary and financial policies of the six Central African countries comprising the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC): Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo.

During his tenure, Tolli focused on advancing monetary policy, ensuring financial stability, and promoting economic integration among member states. His leadership at BEAC was marked by efforts to harmonize economic policies and foster sustainable growth across the region.

Campaign Promises

In his bid for the AfDB presidency, Abbass Mahamat Tolli has outlined a vision aimed at unlocking Africa’s economic potential. Key components of his campaign include:

1. Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Integration

Tolli emphasizes the importance of strengthening regional ties to boost trade, improve infrastructure, and encourage collective economic growth. He believes that closer collaboration among African nations is essential for addressing shared challenges and achieving sustainable development.

2. Stabilizing Africa’s Financial System

To bolster financial stability, Tolli has pledged to enhance access to affordable credit, improve monetary policies, and strengthen institutions. His goal is to create a more robust financial framework that supports long-term economic development across the continent.

3. Promoting Economic Diversification

Tolli has promised to help African countries reduce their reliance on traditional industries by investing in agriculture, manufacturing, and technology. He also aims to support green financing initiatives, encouraging investments in renewable energy and environmental sustainability to align African economies with global trends.

4. Empowering Youth and Women

Recognizing the critical role of youth and women in Africa’s development, Tolli has pledged to expand opportunities through targeted programs. These initiatives will focus on improving education, fostering entrepreneurship, and increasing workforce participation.

5. Strengthening AfDB’s Funding Capacity

To achieve his ambitious goals, Tolli plans to mobilize resources, enhance the AfDB’s funding capabilities, and build stronger partnerships with global financial institutions.

A Historic Bid for Chad

Abbass Mahamat Tolli was the first candidate to officially declare his interest in the AfDB presidency. If elected, he would make history as the first Chadian to lead the institution. With his campaign promises and track record of financial leadership, Tolli now seeks to convince the AfDB Board of Governors of his vision for Africa’s future before the May 2025 election.

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