smoke and mirrors

Akon City: Have Macky Sall and Senegal’s government been swindled?

in depth

This article is part of the dossier:

Is Senegal’s Akon City an impossible dream?

By Mehdi Ba

Premium badge Reserved for subscribers

Posted on April 7, 2023 11:16

The American singer’s project is now at a standstill and the Senegalese government is increasingly withdrawing its support. Why did Akon embark on this uncertain adventure? Did he want to turn it into a land speculation operation? Or is it a ‘pyramid scheme’?

This is part 4 of a 4-part series 

While the Akon City project could very well collapse like a house of cards if the Senegalese authorities decide to reallocate the Mbodiène land to a hotel consortium, the motivations that led Akon to embark on this futuristic city project remain unclear.

There's more to this story

Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from over 54 African countries, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Abidjan to Abuja to Addis Ababa. Africa. Unlocked.

Subscribe Now

cancel anytime