Senegal has officially scrapped the ambitious $6 billion “Akon City” project, a futuristic smart city proposed by Senegalese-American singer Akon. The government reclaimed most of the 136 acres of land previously allocated for the project, citing prolonged delays, unmet financial obligations, and a lack of construction activity since its announcement in 2020.
Originally envisioned as a tech-driven city modeled after Marvel’s Wakanda, Akon City was to be built along Senegal’s Atlantic coast in the village of Mbodiène. The project promised cutting-edge infrastructure powered by renewable energy and fueled by Akon’s cryptocurrency, Akoin.
However, five years later, the vision remains largely unfulfilled. Apart from a youth center, basketball court, and information kiosk, no significant development has taken place. The first phase — which was supposed to include a hospital and other vital facilities — was initially slated for completion by 2023.
Serigne Mamadou Mboup, director of SAPCO (the government agency overseeing tourism and coastal development), confirmed the project’s termination, telling L’Agence de Presse Sénégalaise: “That project no longer exists.”
According to Bloomberg, SAPCO will now move forward with a scaled-down tourism initiative in the same location, backed by private investors with a budget of approximately 665 billion CFA francs ($1.2 billion). Akon will retain just 8 hectares of the original land, which will be incorporated into the government’s revised development plan.
Despite the project’s collapse, officials remain optimistic. The new initiative is projected to create up to 15,000 jobs during its first phase, potentially revitalizing the Mbodiène community with much-needed economic opportunities.
