by Sebastien GOULARD
In early July, the Senegalese government confirmed the abandonment of the Akon City project. The futuristic new city, which was supposed to rise a hundred kilometers south of the capital Dakar, will not see the light of day.
The “Akon City” project originated from the ambitions of Senegalese-American singer Akon. Raised in the United States, the artist gained international fame with his debut album Trouble, released in 2004. He was later ranked among the world’s most influential people by Forbes magazine in 2010. Around that time, Akon began pursuing new ventures and announced in 2018 the upcoming construction of Akon City, which was expected to welcome its first residents by 2026, at the end of Phase 1. Riding the wave of the Black Panther phenomenon and the fictional kingdom of Wakanda, Akon’s initiative was positively received by Senegalese authorities, who saw it as a way to attract foreign investors and boost tourism.
The Senegalese government granted 800 hectares of land in the commune of Mbodiène for the construction of the new city. Akon City was envisioned as an ecological, “smart,” inclusive city, featuring campuses, hospitals, a business center, and resorts for tourists. Its creator, Akon, also emphasized the importance of job creation for the local population. However, some local landowners have already voiced concerns about not receiving compensation for the expropriation of their land.
With a projected cost of 5 billion euros, the construction of Akon City was among the most ambitious projects ever proposed in Senegal. It was tied to the launch of a cryptocurrency—Akoin—which, by the artist’s own admission, ultimately failed.
The project was soon delayed. In August 2024, the Senegalese government publicly expressed concern about the lack of progress and threatened to reclaim the land allocated to the development. Lacking meaningful investor support, Akon was forced to announce the end of the utopian project in July 2025. Only one building—the welcome center—was ever completed.
The Senegalese government, however, still hopes to pursue a smaller-scale project on the site to support tourism, but with no futuristic skyscrapers in sight.
Senegal’s Challenges
Today, Senegal is one of West Africa’s most resilient economies. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, elected in the first round in March 2024, is pursuing a break with the past, seeking new international partnerships and reassessing the country’s relationship with France.
On the economic front, Senegal must continue implementing reforms to increase productivity, strengthen its service sector, and create jobs—especially for its youth. Nearly 40% of Senegal’s 19 million citizens are under the age of 14. The current government faces the challenge of laying the groundwork for sustained economic activity. Senegal must also focus on building more housing to accommodate rapid urbanization. Real estate projects are multiplying, and the Akon City initiative had initially been welcomed in this context.
New Cities, New Promises?
The abandonment of Akon City highlights the inherent difficulties of building new cities. In the past, projects such as Brasília—the capital of Brazil—were successful. More recently, several countries have launched plans to build new capitals. Indonesia, for example, is developing Nusantara on the island of Borneo, which has already attracted nearly half a million residents in just three years. In Saudi Arabia, the NEOM project—a city in the desert—is one of the boldest initiatives currently underway.
However, few major cities have ever been developed without strong and sustained involvement from government authorities.
Senegal already hosts new urban developments such as Diamniadio, located on the outskirts of Dakar. Conceived in 2015, Diamniadio currently has a population of 50,000, with a target of 250,000 by 2040. Several government agencies are expected to relocate there, easing pressure on land use in the capital. As with many new cities, the challenge lies in convincing the middle class to move to a city where infrastructure is still incomplete, while also ensuring inclusion of local residents who may not have the financial means to remain in their own communities.
In a country like Senegal, where infrastructure needs remain high, Akon City was viewed as a real opportunity—an international showcase that could boost the country’s visibility abroad. However, one of the project’s major shortcomings was its reliance on a single individual and the financing of the development through his own cryptocurrency.
This episode is likely to make Senegalese authorities more cautious when considering future real estate ventures.
Author: Dr. Sebastien Goulard is the founder and editor-in-chief of Global Connectivities.
