Moroccans, Nigerians, Kenyans and South Africans dominate the 2016 edition of the Choiseul 100 Africa – Economic Leaders for Tomorrow, a study carried out the Institut Choiseul, a Paris-based think tank.

This year, Morocco has 10 young leaders in the annual ranking which “identifies and ranks the young African leaders of 40 years old and under 40, who will play a major role in the continent’s economic development in the near future”.

The Cherifian kingdom is followed by Nigeria, Kenya, both having nine young leaders in the ranking, and ahead of South Africa (7), Egypt (6), Cote d’Ivoire (6) and Algeria (5).

To select young leaders, the Institut bases its work on three main selection criteria: Being of African nationality, having less than 40 years and actively contributing to Africa’s economic development. Many experts and specialists over the continent also helped the Institut conduct the study.

Aside these three main criteria, others such as the image and reputation, the skills and background, power and position, influence and networking, potential and leadership were taken into account. Points obtained in the various categories mentioned above were used to determine the position of the laureates in the final ranking.

At the first position in the ranking is Tanzanian billionaire Mohamed Dewji, chief of MeTL, which operates in the power, infrastructure, finance services, logistics and transport sectors across 11 African nations. Next come Mehdi Tazi (Morocco), Busisa Moyo (Zimbabwe), Zukie Siyotula (South Africa), Igho Sanomi (Nigeria), Sahbi Othmani (Algeria), Sébastien Kadio Morokro (Cote d’Ivoire), Peter Njonjo (Kenya), Pascal Houangni Ambouroué (Gabon). Egyptian Minsouh Abdel-Meguid closes the top 10.

There are 35 women in this third edition of the Choiseul 100 Africa.