In a surprising turn of events, the monumental $6 billion Akon City project in Senegal has been officially abandoned, with officials now steering the focus toward more feasible initiatives. Serigne Mamadou Mboup, the head of Senegal’s tourism body Sapco, confirmed to the BBC that while Akon City is no more, a new, realistic development framework is in the works with the singer and entrepreneur Alioune Badara Thiam, popularly known as Akon.
Akon Abandons $6 Billion Vision: Focus Shifts to Practical Developments in Senegal
Akon Abandons $6 Billion Vision: Focus Shifts to Practical Developments in Senegal
The ambitious plans for Akon's futuristic city in Senegal, once filled with promise, have been scrapped in favor of a more pragmatic approach.
Akon first announced his dream of Akon City in 2018, intending it to symbolize the future of African innovation and sustainability, complete with a unique cryptocurrency called Akoin. The ambitious project promised to transform a sprawling 800-hectare site in Mbodiène—located just 100 km south of Dakar—into a high-tech, eco-friendly metropolis that would run entirely on renewable energy. Initial designs elicited comparisons to the fictional city of Wakanda, with curvaceous skyscrapers and futuristic infrastructure.
However, after five years of primarily stalled efforts, the site remains predominantly vacant, featuring only an unfinished reception building. Complaints from local residents highlight the unfulfilled promises of job creation and development. The Akoin cryptocurrency initiative has also faced scrutiny, with Akon admitting to mismanagement and difficulty in fulfilling investor returns.
Legal questions regarding the usage of Akoin as a monetary method in Senegal further complicated project feasibility, given the country's established currency, the CFA franc.
As the ambitious plans for Akon City fade into history, the Senegalese government is now focused on developing a simpler, more realistic project for the same strategic site in Mbodiène. The land's value is expected to surge with the upcoming 2026 Youth Olympic Games and a rise in tourism, prompting officials to seek practical alternatives rather than idealistic visions.
However, after five years of primarily stalled efforts, the site remains predominantly vacant, featuring only an unfinished reception building. Complaints from local residents highlight the unfulfilled promises of job creation and development. The Akoin cryptocurrency initiative has also faced scrutiny, with Akon admitting to mismanagement and difficulty in fulfilling investor returns.
Legal questions regarding the usage of Akoin as a monetary method in Senegal further complicated project feasibility, given the country's established currency, the CFA franc.
As the ambitious plans for Akon City fade into history, the Senegalese government is now focused on developing a simpler, more realistic project for the same strategic site in Mbodiène. The land's value is expected to surge with the upcoming 2026 Youth Olympic Games and a rise in tourism, prompting officials to seek practical alternatives rather than idealistic visions.
