Reacting to the crisis known as the “16 whistleblower allegations” which has paralyzed the African Development Bank for several weeks, five former vice-presidents published a letter on Sunday June 21 calling for a “consensus”.

The signatories of the open letter, Mauritanian Ousmane Kane, Chadian Bedoumra Kordje, Malian Birama Sidibé, Zimbabwean Sakala Zondo and South African Mandla Gantsho, say they are concerned about the crisis between the President of the AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina, and some shareholders calling for an independent investigation.

Noting that 11 former African heads of state had called for caution and respect for the rules of the institution in a joint statement on May 29, the former vice-presidents believe that an independent investigation is necessary, in the interest of the President of the African Development Bank, staff, shareholders and the institution itself.

Recalling that the AfDB had lost its triple A in the mid-1990s and that it took 10 years to regain it, after a painful reform, the signatories of the letter welcome the statement by the President of the AfDB on 27 May in which he indicated that he was not opposed to an independent investigation.

The former vice-presidents also welcome the position of the group of the board of governors to act quickly for a rapid and independent examination of the question. The group ends its correspondence by calling on governors, regional and non-regional, to act together in defense of the bank's reputation and credibility.