THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Senegalese-American artist and businessman Alioune Badara Thiam alias Akon has signed an agreement with the Senegalese government for the construction of a “futuristic city” in Mbodiene, near Mbour.
The “Dakar Sustainable City” project, a technological marvel of a city that will run on futuristic tech such as cryptocurrency and renewable energy, is to support tourism in Senegal by attracting visitors from all over the world.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday by Akon and Alioune Sarr, Senegal’s Minister of Tourism and Air Transport, on behalf of SAPCO, the Society for the Development and Promotion of Coast and Tourist Areas in Senegal.
Already dubbed Akon City, the project which will be built on 50 hectares of land, will comprise of 60 villas equipped with modern amenities.
Minister Sarr said the investment by Akon will support the tourism sector, identified in the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE) as a special growth engine.
“This is a sector in which Senegal has many advantages,” Akon added, supporting the minister’s view.
According to Akon, known throughout the world and followed by millions of internet users on social media, he is committed to promoting tourism in Senegal.
“Air Senegal will open a new route to the United States, and we intend to establish a partnership with Akon so that the promotion [of Senegalese tourism] on the American and Caribbean market can be done by this personality who is a reference on the world stage,” said Minister Sarr.
Akon is an advocate for a stronger diaspora investment in Africa. His Akon Lighting Africa, which was launched in 2014, installs solar systems for homes and to light streets across the continent. Akon said the project has reached 1 million households in the continent.
Adira Kallo
