The Akon City project, a planned futuristic city in Senegal backed by the American-Senegalese singer Akon, appears to have been abandoned. The singer had envisioned a $6 billion, 10-square-mile city powered by renewable energy and operating on its own cryptocurrency, Akoin. However, due to a lack of funding and legal challenges, the project has not made significant progress and is now being reclaimed by the Senegalese government.
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The news comes after the country's tourism authorities informed the BBC that the land is being repossessed to be used for other realistic projects. The government had initially granted Akon a 2,000-hectare (4,942-acre) site for the project in 2018, expecting it to create jobs and boost the local economy. However, the project faced criticism from environmentalists and local communities who questioned its feasibility and sustainability.
A similar project by Akon in Uganda has also encountered difficulties. The Ugandan government allocated 645 acres of land for the development of Akon City, but the project has stalled due to the presence of 10,000 residents who have refused to vacate the area, claiming they were not properly consulted about the project.
This marks a significant setback for Akon's ambitious plans to build sustainable cities across Africa. Despite the challenges, Akon's vision to contribute to Africa's development through such projects has drawn attention to the potential of innovative urban planning and investment in the continent's infrastructure. However, the lack of progress in both the Senegal and Uganda projects highlights the complexities of such large-scale ventures, especially when dealing with issues like land rights and community involvement.