Senegal Scraps $6bn Akon City Project, Backs Realistic Urban Project

SENEGAL - 11 July 2025 - Senegal has officially cancelled plans for the $6 billion Akon City, a high-profile futuristic smart city once envisioned by American-Senegalese musician and entrepreneur Akon. Originally pitched as a transformative hub powered by blockchain and clean energy, the project has been abandoned due to lack of progress and feasibility concerns.

Grand Vision Meets Ground Reality

Akon City was to be the first of two interlinked initiatives, the physical city and its digital counterpart, a new cryptocurrency called Akoin. The proposed city featured striking architectural designs reminiscent of Wakanda, the fictional African nation in Marvel’s Black Panther. Its estimated $6 billion cost was to fund curvaceous skyscrapers, advanced infrastructure, and a futuristic economy.

But despite its grand ambitions, the 800-hectare site in Mbodiène bout 100km south of Dakar, remains largely barren after five years. A single incomplete reception building stands on otherwise undeveloped land with no roads, utilities, or housing.

"We were promised jobs and development," a local resident told the BBC. "Instead, nothing has changed."

Official Confirmation and Pivot

“The Akon City project no longer exists,” confirmed Serigne Mamadou Mboup, head of Senegal’s tourism development agency, SAPCO. However, he added, “Fortunately, an agreement has been reached between SAPCO and the entrepreneur Alioune Badara Thiam [aka Akon]. What he's preparing with us is a realistic project, which SAPCO will fully support.”

Cryptocurrency Also Falters

Meanwhile, Akoin, the cryptocurrency tied to Akon City, has faced its own troubles. Investors have expressed disappointment over stalled progress and poor returns. Akon himself admitted, “It wasn’t being managed properly. I take full responsibility for that.”

Strategic Future for Mbodiène Site

While the original vision for Akon City has been officially shelved, Senegalese authorities confirm they are now partnering with Akon on a more practical development initiative for the same location.

The Mbodiène site, though currently underutilized, remains a valuable asset, particularly with the 2026 Youth Olympic Games on the horizon and a projected uptick in tourism. The revised project aims to unlock the area’s potential with a focus on achievable goals aligned with national growth strategies.