As Africa prepares for the upcoming African Development Bank (AfDB) presidential elections, Zambia’s Dr. Samuel Maimbo is emerging as the favorite to become the next President, with significant backing from regional economic blocs and international development partners. With over 30 years of experience in global finance and economic development, Dr. Maimbo has cultivated a reputation as a results-driven leader with a deep understanding of Africa’s financial landscape and development challenges.

Dr. Samuel Maimbo, Vice President for Budget, Performance Review, and Strategic Planning at the World Bank, is one of five candidates running to become president of the African Development Bank. In an exclusive interview, he told DW’s Josey Mahachi that Africa can industrialize and transform its growth trajectory due to the enormous resources at its disposal. However, he warns the continent is running out of time.

Djibouti, a country of just over a million people on the African side of the Red Sea’s Bab el-Mandab strait, is blessed with neither mineral resources nor agricultural land. But it does have two things: a unique geographic location at a chokepoint of global maritime trade, and political stability. This is why China and America, as well as France, Japan and Italy, all have permanent naval bases here. And it is why Ethiopia, a landlocked country of 130m people, uses Djibouti’s ports for around 95% of its external trade.

Ahead of the African Development Bank Presidency election in May, our Managing Director and Deputy Chief Executive Hans Peter Lankes speaks to one of five candidates, Dr. Samuel Maimbo, about his vision for the bank.

توقع نائب رئيس مكتب الميزانية ومراجعة الأداء والتخطيط الاستراتيجي في البنك الدولي سامويل مايمبو، تكثيف الجهود خلال الفترة القادمة لتعزيز اتفاقية التجارة الحرة في إفريقيا

Coming from the World Bank where he has spent almost his entire career, the Zambian is a candidate for the presidency of the African Development Bank (ADB), the election of which will be held on May 29, in a context of great global uncertainty.
Interview by Rémy Darras

In this exclusive episode of AfricaLink, we're being joined by Dr. Samuel Maimbo, Vice President for Budget, Performance Review, and Strategic Planning at the World Bank, to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the continent's economic future.

Dr Sam Maimbo, candidate for the presidency of the African Development Bank joins Channels Television from Lusaka, Zambia to share his vision and plans.

WINDHOEK, 16 APR (NAMPA) – Zambian candidate for the African Development Bank (AfDB) presidency, Dr Samuel Maimbo is visiting Namibia this week to meet with senior government officials and discuss his vision for the institution.

The African Union's planned rating agency faces the same problem as its competitors: the data situation on the continent is poor.

Zambia’s candidate for the African Development Bank presidency, Samuel Maimbo, says the new United States (US) tariffs highlight the urgent need for African countries to strengthen trade among themselves.

WINDHOEK, 16 APR (NAMPA) – Dr Samuel Maimbo, Zambian candidate for the African Development Bank (AfDB) presidency, says empowering Africa’s youth and fostering inclusive leadership are central to his strategy for the institution.

Africa-Press – Botswana. Zambia is seeking support from Botswana for the upcoming presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

DJIBOUTI City, Djibouti 9th April 2025 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Global turbulence, much of it self-inflicted, dominated discussions at the second edition of the Djibouti Forum. Nonetheless, business leaders appeared relatively optimistic, and this wakeup call may turn out to be a good omen for the continent.

Afrikapolitik im neuen Koalitionsvertrag: Am Mittwoch haben CDU, CSU und SPD ihren Koalitionsvertrag „Verantwortung für Deutschland“ vorgestellt. Auch die Zusammenarbeit mit dem afrikanischen Kontinent nimmt darin eine wichtige Rolle ein. Afrika wird an insgesamt acht Stellen namentlich erwähnt – zwar etwas weniger als im Koalitionsvertrag der Ampelregierung, in dem zehn Nennungen gezählt wurden, aber deutlich häufiger als andere Regionen.

The future of international cooperation is a hotly debated topic. Global crises, geopolitical tensions and increased competition for resources and influence are calling for a new way of thinking about the goals, structures and instruments of development cooperation (DC).

As trade tensions intensify globally, the implications for Africa’s economic future are front and centre. Sam Maimbo, a leading candidate for the AfDB presidency, speaks to CNBC Africa about the disruptive impact of U.S. tariffs, the urgency of fast-tracking AfCFTA, and why Africa’s biggest competition isn’t a rival nation — it’s poverty and unemployment.

Der Sambier Samuel Maimbo kandidiert für die Präsidentschaft der Afrikanischen Entwicklungsbank (AfDB). Zuletzt war er Vize-Präsident der Weltbank. Warum er den Rückzug vieler Länder aus der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit als Chance für Afrika sieht, lesen Sie im Interview.

For Zambia’s candidate for the African Development Bank presidency, investing in proper debate is key for effective non-ideological policy.

(Agence Ecofin) - Candidat à la présidence de la Banque africaine de développement (BAD), Samuel Munzele Maimbo fait partie des cinq prétendants en lice pour succéder à Akinwumi Adesina. Mais l’économiste zambien est déjà pressenti comme l’un des principaux favoris de cette élection stratégique.

DR SAMUEL MUNZELE MAIMBO, CANDIDAT POUR LA PRÉSIDENCE
DE LA BANQUE AFRICAINE DE DÉVELOPPEMENT

Morocco continues to expand its diplomatic and economic partnerships across Africa.

Entretien avec Samuel Munzele Maimbo, candidat à la présidence de la BAD: «L’Afrique a besoin d’actions audacieuses et pragmatiques, et je veux que la BAD montre la voie»

アフリカ開発銀行（AfDB）の次期総裁候補で、世界銀行でアフリカ地域の開発戦略を主導したサミュエル・マインボ氏が日本経済新聞の取材に答えた。アフリカの経済成長率を2025年に「5〜6%の水準に引き上げる」と述べた。エネルギーやインフラ、教育分野でより実効性のある投資を実現し、格差の是正が急務との考えを示した。

Zambia has reaffirmed its commitment to regional integration, financial discipline, and sustainable development as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) intensifies efforts to enhance its financial autonomy.

Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo, a development finance expert, is a candidate for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB). CNBC Africa's Tabitha Muthoni exclusively spoke to him about his vision for the bank and Africa's economic transformation.

Dans cette interview, Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo, candidat à la présidence de la Banque africaine de développement, présente ses propositions pour transformer la BAD en un moteur de croissance durable pour l’Afrique.

African leaders' push to mobilise domestic sources of cash to help fund billions in sovereign borrowing will face slow progress until low savings rates rise and African investors step up, experts and analysts say.

Aliko Dangote, President/ Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), has disclosed the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has enough Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol in storage to sufficiently meet the local needs of Nigerian energy consumers.

Watch the full interview here.