In August 2024

In August 2024 Senegalese government gave Akon an ultimatum to commence the Akon City project or loss the allocated land. Just as they are about to proceed with that plan, in just five days ago, during a dramatic turn of events, Akon started clearing the 140 hectares of land allocated for his ambitious Akon City project following a stern ultimatum from the Senegalese government. The government had given Akon a final warning to commence construction or risk losing 90% of the land granted for the futuristic city development.

Originally announced in 2018, Akon City was envisioned as a $6 billion “Wakanda-like” smart city on Senegal’s Atlantic coastline, designed to boost local employment, business opportunities, and quality of life. The Senegalese government had allocated over 140 hectares of prime coastal land to the project, with Akon publicly unveiling the multi-billion-dollar contract in 2020.

However, despite the fanfare, the project failed to take off for several years, prompting growing frustration from Senegalese authorities. After the final notice, Akon swiftly mobilized a team of over 100 workers armed with cutlasses to begin clearing the site, emphasizing that even this clearing phase counts as part of the construction process.

Financially, the project’s scale has raised eyebrows, especially given Akon’s net worth of approximately $145 million contrasted with the $6 billion estimated cost of Akon City, highlighting the challenges of funding such an ambitious development.

This latest move follows months of government pressure and public scrutiny, signaling Akon’s renewed commitment to advancing the stalled project amid concerns over missed deadlines and stalled progress.

The Akon City plan originally aimed to create a solar-powered, eco-friendly metropolis featuring skyscrapers, shopping malls, technology hubs, and entertainment facilities, with Akon’s cryptocurrency, Akoin, intended as the city’s official currency. Despite the grand vision, only a welcome center and a few minor structures were completed before delays and financial setbacks stalled the initiative.

With this land clearing, Akon appears determined to revive the project and meet the government’s demands, though many remain cautiously optimistic about the city’s future.

On July 9, 2025, Senegalese authorities officially announced the cancellation of Akon’s ambitious $6 billion plan to build a futuristic, Wakanda-inspired city on the Atlantic coast of Senegal. The project, which was first unveiled in 2018 and aimed to transform the village of Mbodiène into a solar-powered smart city running on Akon’s cryptocurrency Akoin, failed to make significant progress over the years.

Serigne Mamadou Mboup, head of SAPCO—the government agency overseeing coastal development—stated that the original Akon City project “no longer exists.” The government reclaimed most of the 136 acres initially granted to Akon after missed payments and lack of construction milestones. To replace the stalled mega-project, Senegal will now focus on a more realistic, privately funded $1.2 billion tourism development featuring hotels, apartments, a marina, and a promenade. Akon will retain just 8 hectares (about 19 acres) for a smaller-scale development within this new framework.

The initial phase of the original project was supposed to be completed by 2023 but only yielded a youth center, basketball court, and an information hub. The cancellation comes amid Senegal’s ongoing debt crisis and a government audit under former President Macky Sall. Despite the setback, officials say the new tourism hub will create around 15,000 jobs and serve as a model for economic growth in the region.

Akon himself has acknowledged the challenges, taking full responsibility for financial and management issues related to the project. He remains in discussions with Senegalese authorities to develop a more feasible plan for the site. This marks the end of a high-profile vision that captured imaginations worldwide but struggled to materialize on the ground.