ABIDJAN, May 29 -- Five candidates are in the running to succeed Nigeria's Akinwumi Adesina as president of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

They are:

Amadou Hott (Senegal)

Hott was Senegal's economy minister from 2019 to 2022 under the presidency of Macky Sall and until September last year was Adesina's special envoy for green infrastructure in Africa.

But he is not necessarily a natural successor, as the position usually goes to a candidate from another region and the candidacy of Mauritania's Sidi Ould Tah will split the west African vote.

In his pitch for the leadership, Hott, 52, has called for "a more inclusive, integrated and resilient Africa", positioning himself in particular as a supporter of AfCFTA, the African Contine...