CHAMBLEE, Georgia, United States — Internationally renowned singer Akon (legal name Akon = Aliaune Badara Thiam) was arrested on Friday, November 7, in the Atlanta suburb of Chamblee after police executed an outstanding bench warrant related to driving on a suspended licence and failure to appear in court.
According to reports, the incident dates back to September 10, when Akon’s white Tesla Cybertruck was stranded on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell, Georgia.
Officers discovered his driver’s licence had been suspended since January 2023 for failure to appear at a court hearing, and they cited him for driving without valid insurance and on a suspended licence.
On November 7, a Flock-traffic camera alerted the Chamblee Police Department to the vehicle parked outside Tint World on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Upon arrival, officers confirmed the registered owner was Akon, and they informed him of the outstanding warrant. He cooperated and was taken into custody without incident.
During processing at the DeKalb County Jail, no weapons or contraband were found on Akon, though authorities say an “illegal vape device” was seized previously in the September stop.
He was released later the same day after posting bail. It remains unclear whether additional criminal charges will be filed.
Akon, 52, rose to international fame with hits such as “Locked Up” and “Smack That,” and has since been active in philanthropic and entrepreneurial ventures in Africa and beyond.
The arrest arrives amid personal developments for the artist: in September 2025, his wife filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.