The three co-authors, Amadou Hott, Samuel Munzele Maimbo, and Sidi Ould Tah, are presidential candidates for the African Development Bank.
African nations are being punished by a global financial system that systematically overprices the risk of investing in their economies. The result: Governments are paying up to five times more to borrow from capital markets than they would through concessional financing. For many, the choice is stark — repay creditors or invest in schools, hospitals, and clean water.
This isn’t just an African problem — it’s a global liability. The world cannot afford to choke off growth in the very region that holds the key to future labour supply, new markets, and climate resilience.
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About the authors
Amadou Hott
Amadou Hott is a former minister of economy, planning and cooperation for Senegal and the special envoy of the president of the African Development Bank for the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa. His deep understanding of the continent’s potential and financing needs, coupled with his active participation in global financial reform discussions, makes him a transformative leader to drive sustainable prosperity in a more inclusive, integrated, and resilient Africa.
Samuel Munzele MaimboSamMMaimbo
Samuel Munzele Maimbo is the vice president for budget, performance review and strategic planning at the World Bank in Washington D.C., currently on special leave of absence while a candidate for the African Development Bank presidency. Previously, he served as the chief of staff to World Bank Presidents David Malpass and Ajay Banga, as well as senior adviser to two World Bank Group chief financial officers.
Sidi Ould Tah
Sidi Ould Tah is the former president of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, or BADEA, where he led an institutional transformation that earned the bank AAA credit ratings. He previously served as Mauritania’s minister of economy and finance, representing the country on the boards of major development institutions. He holds a Ph.D. in economics and completed executive training at Harvard and the London Business School. Tah has also served on the boards of several African development finance institutions.
