IMF taps Mauritanian, Zeine Zeidane to head African Department

Former Mauritania Prime Minister Zeine Zeidane has been appointed as the new Director of the African Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

While making the announcement, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Zeidane will succeed Abebe Aemro Selassie who retires from the Fund effective May 1, 2026.

“Zeine will bring deep institutional knowledge, sound judgment, and strong policymaking experience to the department as it continues to respond to sub-Saharan Africa’s growing demands for tailored policy advice, financing, and capacity development,” said Georgieva.

Zeidane has over two decades of experience in macroeconomic policymaking and international economic cooperation and currently serves as Deputy Director in the Middle East and Central Asia Department (MCD), overseeing the IMF’s engagement with major economies in the Gulf region.

Zeidane previously served in AFR as a Deputy Director and also played a central role in shaping Fund policies to better meet the needs of sub-Saharan Africa.

“I am confident that he will successfully lead AFR with a shared sense of purpose in advancing its mandate and serving our membership,” added Georgieva.

Zeidane also held several of the most senior economic policymaking positions in Mauritania including serving the central bank governor and Economic Advisor to the President.

He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics and a postgraduate degree in Macroeconomics from the University of Nice.