Forbes Ranks Two Moroccan Billionaires Among Africa’s Wealthiest

Aziz Akhannouch and Othmane Benjelloun are the two Moroccans present in the top 18 of the largest African fortunes. With an estimated fortune of $2.2 billion in 2021, higher than his estimated fortune in 2020, the former occupies the 13th place on the Forbes list. The current head of government, who has "withdrawn from any management of the family holding company" "holds interests in oil, gas and chemicals through the listed companies Afriquia Gaz and Maghreb Oxygène", as majority owner of the Akwa group.

The second ranks 15th on the list of the largest African fortunes, with an estimated fortune of $1.5 billion, also higher than the estimated fortune in 2020, thus gaining a place in the African ranking. Othmane Benjelloun, CEO of BMCE Bank Of Africa, is ranked 2263rd in the global ranking.

The health crisis related to Covid-19 did not have a negative impact on the fortunes of African billionaires. On the contrary, they have seen their fortunes increase. According to Forbes, the 18 African fortunes have reached around $84.9 billion, up 15% from the previous year. Morocco has two billionaires, Nigeria three, South Africa five and Egypt five. As for Algeria and Zimbabwe, each has one.