July 10, 2025 | Dakar — The Senegalese government has officially scrapped singer Akon’s grandiose plan to build a $6 billion Wakanda-inspired smart city at Mbodiène, citing a lack of progress and unresolved financing. Instead, authorities are pivoting toward a more grounded $1.2 billion resort and tourism development on the same coastal land .
Officials from SAPCO, Senegal’s coastal development agency, confirmed that the original “Akon City” project “no longer exists”, with most of the 136 acres reverting to state control . Under the revised plan, 655 billion CFA francs (≈ $1.2 billion) will fund the development:
~600 billion CFA francs from private investors
~55 billion CFA francs from government
Akon himself retains just 8 hectares for a modest venture amid the new reality .
