Kemi Seba, Activist and Coup Supporter, Arrested in South Africa

Thu Apr 16 2026 13:50:44 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Kemi Seba, a controversial activist and supporter of a foiled coup in Benin, was apprehended in South Africa while allegedly attempting to flee to Europe. His arrest, along with his son and an accomplice, has drawn attention due to the serious charges he faces.

Kemi Seba, a French-born Beninese activist, was arrested in South Africa on suspicion of attempting to evade charges related to inciting rebellion in Benin. The police report that Seba, along with his son and a facilitator, had been planning to illegally cross to Zimbabwe before heading to Europe. Facing serious allegations in both Benin and France, Seba's case has implications for international relations and activism in Africa.

South African police say they have arrested wanted fugitive French-born Beninese activist Kemi Seba while he was allegedly attempting to flee to Europe through Zimbabwe.

Seba, whose real name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, is wanted in Benin on charges of inciting rebellion after supporting last year's foiled coup there.

He was arrested on Monday alongside his 18-year-old son in a sting operation at a shopping centre in Pretoria. A facilitator who had allegedly been paid to help them illegally cross to Zimbabwe was also detained.

Seba, 45, is known for opposing French influence in Africa, backing West Africa's military leaders, and has been accused of spreading Russian propaganda.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the father [Seba] is allegedly a wanted fugitive in France and Benin for criminal activities relating to crimes against the state, South Africa's police said in a statement on Thursday.

The police added that the individual who assisted Seba and his son had been paid about 250,000 South African rand ($15,000; £11,000) to help them move across the Limpopo River into Zimbabwe, with the intention to further proceed to Europe.

They remain in police custody after appearing in court on Wednesday, and the case was moved to April 20, with plans for Seba's extradition underway.

Seba has not commented on the allegations against him. Born in France to parents from Benin, he is a prominent figure with 1.5 million followers online and heads the NGO Pan-Africanist Emergency, which promotes issues related to African sovereignty and solidarity.

He has been sentenced in France several times for inciting racial hatred and is often accused of anti-Semitism. In 2024, he was stripped of his French citizenship, and he responded by burning his passport in public, claiming he had been freed from the burden of French nationality.

Allegations against him intensified after he was accused of being a mouthpiece for Russian propaganda amid a climate of anti-French sentiment in West Africa.

The military leaders which seized power in Niger, as well as its neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, have halted military co-operation with France against Islamist militants and have started working with Russia.

On December 7, mutinying soldiers claimed to have overthrown the Benin president. The attempted coup was foiled within hours with help from Nigeria and France. Seba had posted a video declaring it was the day of liberation for his country, leading to Benin issuing an international warrant for his arrest.