Djibrilla A. Issa

Djibrilla Issa is the Division Director for Senegal, Mauritania, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and The Gambia since March 16, 2026. Prior to this appointment, he served as Practice Manager for Finance, Competitiveness and Investment for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Based in Dakar, Senegal, Mr. Issa will lead the World Bank’s strategic engagement and country programs across a five-country portfolio nearing $6 billion. In this role, he will oversee the World Bank Group’s engagement across the five countries, working closely with governments, development partners, and key stakeholders to support priority initiatives. Central to this agenda is fostering an enabling environment for private sector-led job creation, with targeted investments in infrastructure, agribusiness, digital connectivity, and human capital to drive inclusive and sustainable growth.

A Nigerien national, Mr. Issa joined the World Bank in 2001 as a Financial Sector Specialist. Before joining the World Bank, he  held senior roles in banking supervision and regulation at the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) and worked in research and academia on trade and regional integration.