Akon City Scrapped in Senegal After 7 Years, New Project Announced
After nearly seven years of delays and little to no progress, the ambitious Akon City project in Senegal has officially been scrapped. Initially announced in 2018, the $6 billion futuristic city was meant to transform the coastal town of Mbodiène into a tech-driven, Wakanda-inspired metropolis powered by cryptocurrency. However, despite the buzz and international attention, construction stalled, with only a small welcome center ever being built. Senegal’s tourism agency, SAPCO, has now confirmed that the project no longer exists, citing a lack of financing and failure to meet development commitments.
In place of the original plan, Akon is now collaborating with the Senegalese government on a more realistic and scaled-down development in the same area. This new initiative aims to bring tangible benefits to the local community, with SAPCO expressing full support. While the original dream of a futuristic smart city powered by “Akoin” has faded, both parties remain optimistic that this new direction will deliver meaningful infrastructure and opportunities without the exaggerated promises that defined the original Akon City vision.
