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Akon’s futuristic $6billion city in Senegal ‘has been SCRAPPED’ and will be swapped for ‘a realistic project’

BBG News

The ambitious project by Akon, aimed at constructing a $5.8 billion modern city in Senegal, has now been canceled, which was initially announced five years ago as an endeavor to transform a secluded area along the West African shoreline into a living version of the fictional Wakanda.

The Senegalese government has announced that they are shifting from their grand scheme towards a more achievable or practical approach.

Initially heralded as an advanced paradise running solely on renewable energy and fueled by its unique cryptocurrency, this ambitious venture is now in ruins due to financial difficulties, delays in construction, and legal complications.

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Once celebrated as a tech-savvy paradise run entirely on renewable energy and backed by its own digital currency, the project has crumbled under the weight of budget constraints, construction delays, and legal troubles.

2018 saw the grand introduction of a project for a technologically advanced city, dubbed as ‘Mbankama’, in the vicinity of Mbodiène, with Akon (Alioune Badara Thiam), aged 52 at that time, leading the fanfare. However, recent events mark a dramatic change in the status of this project initially envisioned.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but express my fascination with the initial designs of Akon City, which bear an uncanny resemblance to the futuristic African cityscape depicted in Marvel’s imaginative creation, Wakanda.

According to Akon, the city was supposed to feature a hospital, shopping center, police station, waste management facility, school, and a solar power plant, all of which were planned to be operational and functioning using his unique digital currency named Akoin, by the year 2023.

But nearly six years later, the 800-hectare site remains virtually untouched.

Standing solitarily in an empty, desolate field devoid of roads, houses, or power sources, there’s a partially constructed community center.

Even Akoin, the cryptocurrency designed to power the economy of the new city, has tanked.  

1) The value of the token dramatically dropped, causing many investors to withdraw their investments. Later on, Akon, an artist who spent part of his childhood in Senegal and was also born in the U.S., openly acknowledged that the project had experienced poor management.

The ambitious plan also raised eyebrows from regulators. 

In simple terms, Senegal employs the West African CFA franc, a currency managed by the Central Bank of West African States, much like other central banks who are resistant to the use of cryptocurrencies as legitimate forms of currency.

By 2022, Akon emphasized that the project was “absolutely, positively underway,” however, significant development failed to materialize after the grand media presentations.

Drone footage taken in recent months showed a flat stretch of grassland, eerily quiet.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’m excited about the impending 2026 Youth Olympic Games! The government is keenly focusing on enhancing our tourism infrastructure, and as a result, they’re thoughtfully reimagining the landscape for a more understated, yet impactful development.

The specifics of the new strategy remain undisclosed, yet sources indicate that it might shift focus from fantastical elements towards practicality, as the government aims to prevent a potential future international mishap.

Serigne Mamadou, head of Senegal’s tourism development organization, Sapco, informed the BBC that the Akon City project has been discontinued.

It’s good news that a consensus has been established between Sapco and businessman Alioune Badara Thiam (also known as Akon). The plan he’s working on with us appears to be feasible, and Sapco is committed to backing it.

In 2024, Akon achieved global fame after launching his career with a successful debut album and multiple top 10 singles.

Lately, his participation in the music industry has decreased following a string of singles that didn’t match the sales figures of his previous hits.

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2025-07-04 15:33

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