Senegalese-American singer Akon has been arrested in Georgia, United States, for driving with a suspended license.
According to the Chamblee Police Department, the 52-year-old was taken into custody on November 7 after officers spotted his white Tesla Cybertruck, which was linked to an active warrant.
The police said they confirmed his identity through his driver’s license and told him about the warrant. “He remained calm and told officers he was aware of the warrant,” the report stated.
Akon, whose real name is Aliaune Badara Thiam, was booked into the DeKalb County Jail around 12:30 p.m. and released six hours later.
Reports from Roswell Police show the case dated back to September when Akon was stopped after his Cybertruck’s battery died on Holcomb Bridge Road. Officers discovered he was driving with a suspended license and had no valid insurance at the time. They also found an illegal vape in the car.
The incident came just weeks after his long-time partner, Tomeka Thiam, filed for divorce on September 11, citing irreconcilable differences after 29 years of marriage. They share a 17-year-old daughter named Journey.
Despite his legal troubles, Akon continues his music tour. He performed in Delhi on November 9 and will appear in Bengaluru on November 14, Mumbai on November 16, and Las Vegas on January 3, 2026.
Akon is best known for his early 2000s hits such as “Locked Up,” “Smack That,” “Lonely,” and “Soul Survivor.” He has also been involved in several philanthropic projects across Africa.
This isn’t his first brush with the law. In 1998, he was jailed for car theft, though the charges were later dropped. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to harassment after throwing a fan off stage during a concert in New York, for which he received community service and a fine.
