### Akon's Visionary City Project in Senegal Abandoned Amidst Challenges

#### After facing multiple setbacks and financing issues, the ambitious Akon City initiative is now off the table, with authorities announcing new, realistic developments in its place.

 

Plans for Akon City, envisioned as a cutting-edge urban hub in Senegal, have officially been scrapped, according to a statement from Serigne Mamadou Mboup, head of Senegal's tourism development agency, Sapco. The project, initially projected to cost around $6 billion, aimed to create an eco-friendly metropolis that would embody the future of African innovation. Instead, Sapco has indicated that Akon, whose real name is Alioune Badara Thiam, will now focus on a more feasible alternative development.

Launched in 2018, Akon City was touted as a groundbreaking initiative that would run on a unique cryptocurrency called Akoin. However, after five years of challenges and stagnation, the 800-hectare site near Mbodiène, about 100 kilometers from Dakar, remains largely undeveloped, with only an incomplete reception building erected. Local residents have expressed disappointment, citing promises of job creation and economic development that never materialized.

Akon's cryptocurrency, Akoin, has faced difficulties in returning value to its investors, leading the artist to acknowledge mismanagement issues that fell under his purview. Furthermore, regulatory challenges regarding Akoin's viability as a primary currency in Senegal, which uses the CFA franc regulated by the Central Bank of West African States, contributed to the project's downfall.

Originally, the expansive plans for Akon City included essential infrastructure such as a hospital, shopping mall, school, police station, waste management facility, and solar power plant – all envisioned for completion by the end of 2023. Despite Akon asserting in a 2022 interview that progress was inevitable, tangible advancements failed to materialize following the project's ceremonial launch.

Ultimately, government officials cited financial constraints and stalled construction as critical factors leading to the project's cancellation. However, a new development initiative is set to take place on the same strategic land near Mbodiène, especially as Senegal prepares for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and anticipates a surge in tourism.

While the original dream of Akon City may have been dashed, the future site still holds promise for realistic growth and development with the support of the Senegalese government.