Diop takes over as WB vice president for Africa

Former Senegalese Finance minister Makhtar Diop has been appointed the World Bank’s vice president for Africa, replacing Ms Obiageli Oby Ezekwesili of Nigeria.

“Makhtar Diop, currently the World Bank’s country director for Brazil since 2009, will take up his new position on May,” a statement from the World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick said.

Mr Diop once served as World Bank’s country manager for Kenya for four years before leaving in mid-2005.

He has also served as World Bank’s country director for Eritrea, and Somalia, as well as director of strategy and operations in the bank’s Latin America and Caribbean region.

His predecessor Ms Ezekwesili returns to Nigeria in early May after serving as the region’s Vice President since 2007.

Mr Zoellick said the out-going vice President for Africa had made major strides in improving the continent’s performance.

“Under Oby’s leadership, our Africa team employed innovation, knowledge, partnership and financial services to strengthen results across Africa and to improve the prospects for Africa’s economic performance,” he said.

“Her close attention to the needs of our clients, engagement with African leadership and with regional institutions, as well as with the UN and other partners, has helped us to leverage our effectiveness across Africa” he said.

Mr Zoellick further said Ms Ezekwesili had done a great job in mobilising private sector engagement and better connecting Africa’s development to that of other regions, particularly through South-South partnerships.

He said that Ms Ezekwesili was a relentless campaigner for transparency and against corruption; had strongly supported the need for greater social accountability and civil society engagement; and had promoted innovative approaches to regional integration.

“We wish Oby all the best in her future endeavours working with civil society, in which she will help to strengthen public sector capacity, and work especially with young people and women,” Mr Zoellick said.

“I am especially appreciative of her committed and devoted service, including the years spent away from her family.”