Global music icon Akon, born Aliaune Thiam, was arrested in Atlanta on November 6, 2025, after being declared a wanted person by the Roswell Police Department in Georgia.
According to reports by People Magazine, the 52-year-old singer was apprehended on an out-of-county warrant and later transferred to another facility, where he was rebooked on November 7 around midnight.
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The warrant stemmed from a September 10 incident, during which a police officer found Akon’s Tesla Cybertruck immobilized due to a dead battery. While assisting with the vehicle, the officer reportedly discovered that the artist’s driver’s license had been suspended following his failure to appear in court in January 2023.
The suspension led to a citation and a warrant, ultimately resulting in his arrest. He was released after six hours in custody, as confirmed by Page Six of the New York Post, which obtained the official incident report.
Akon’s career and humanitarian work
Akon rose to international fame in the early 2000s with chart-topping hits such as Locked Up, Lonely, and Smack That. Beyond his music, he has become widely known for his philanthropy and tech-driven projects across Africa.
His Akon Lighting Africa initiative has brought solar energy to rural communities, while his ambitious Akon City project in Senegal aims to develop a futuristic, crypto-powered smart city, inspired by Wakanda from Black Panther.
Despite the recent legal setback, the multi-platinum artist remains one of Africa’s most influential global figures, bridging entertainment, innovation, and development.