Akon City in Senegal Canceled as Government Takes Back Land

Akon’s futuristic metropolis plan in Senegal is not taking place.

The federal government has formally canceled the deal and brought again the land the place the $6 billion cryptocurrency-powered “Akon Metropolis” was alleged to be constructed.

The undertaking, as soon as pitched as a “real-life Wakanda,” was meant to rise alongside Senegal’s Atlantic Coast and function a cultural and technological hub powered by Akon’s personal AKOIN cryptocurrency.

Again in 2020, Akon secured the land and launched section one, which included plans for roads, a hospital, mall, police station, faculty, energy plant, and extra. That section was scheduled to be completed by the top of 2023. Section two was supposed to incorporate universities, parks, a stadium, and an industrial zone, all totally built-in with AKOIN by 2029.

However none of it occurred. The land sat untouched, and after seven years of missed deadlines and rising frustration from native residents, the Senegalese authorities pulled the plug.

Serigne Mamadou Mboup, president of Sapco-Senegal, confirmed, “The undertaking not exists.”

Sapco, the state-owned firm in command of coastal improvement, is transferring ahead with its personal plans for the land. A brand new $1.2 billion initiative will flip the realm right into a tourism vacation spot with motels, flats, a marina, and a waterfront promenade that connects to a close-by lagoon.

Regardless of the foremost setback, Akon remains to be holding onto a chunk of the dream. He retains eight hectares of land from the unique website for a brand new undertaking anticipated to cowl over 500 hectares.

“What Akon’s getting ready with us is a practical undertaking, which Sapco will totally assist,” Mboup defined.

Akon himself admitted issues went unsuitable early on. Talking to AllHipHop’s Chuck Creekmur final yr, he stated, “My greatest factor was I promoted it method, method, method too early.” He added, “Something that thrilling that might change a tradition, folks will naturally wish to know what’s taking place proper now, assuming that it’s already taking place. Nevertheless it was in a course of of making.”

For now, the way forward for Akon’s different proposed metropolis in Uganda stays unclear. However in Senegal, the dream of Akon Metropolis is formally over.