South African Police Have Apprehended French — born Beninese Activist Kemi Seba, Also Known As Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, in Pretoria.
The 45-year-old, who is wanted in Benin for “inciting rebellion “after backing a failed coup last year, was reportedly attempting to flee to Europe via Zimbabwe. Accompanying Seba during his arrest was his 18-year-old son, and a facilitator who was alleged to have been paid to assist their illegal crossing into Zimbabwe was also detained. Seba, a prominent figure known for his opposition to French influence in Africa and support for West African military leaders, has been accused of spreading Russian propaganda.
South African police confirmed in a statement that Seba is also a wanted fugitive in France and Benin for criminal activities against the state.
The trio appeared in court on Wednesday, and the case has been adjourned to 20 April, with extradition proceedings for Seba under way. Seba has not yet commented on the allegations against him. Born in France to parents from Benin, Seba is a prominent figure with a significant online following.
He heads the NGO Pan — Africanist Emergency, which advocates for African sovereignty and solidarity. Seba has faced legal troubles in France, being sentenced multiple times for inciting racial hatred and often accused of anti-Semitism.
In 2024, he was stripped of his French citizenship, a move he responded to by publicly burning his passport, claiming he had been “freed from the burden of French nationality.”.
The same year, he was granted a Niger diplomatic passport, designating him a “special adviser “to junta leader Abdourahamane Tchiani.
The military leaders in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have since halted military cooperation with France and started working with Russia.
On December 7, mutinying soldiers in Benin attempted to overthrow the president, an event Seba declared as “the day of liberation “in a video, prompting Benin to issue an international warrant for his arrest.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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By This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: BBC Africa
