Grammy nominee Akon arrested in Atlanta after Roswell Police warrant

Global music icon Akon, born Aliaune Thiam, was arrested in Atlanta, United States, on November 6, 2025, after being declared a wanted person by the Roswell Police Department in Georgia.

According to reports from People Magazine, the 52-year-old singer was taken into custody on an out-of-county warrant and later transferred to another facility, where he was rebooked around midnight on November 7.

The warrant was issued following an incident on September 10, when a police officer found Akon’s Tesla Cybertruck immobilized due to a dead battery. While assisting with the vehicle, the officer discovered that the artist’s driver’s license had been suspended because he failed to appear in court in January 2023.

This suspension led to a citation and, ultimately, a warrant for 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 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.