Kemi Seba: Arrest of Activist Linked to Benin's Coup Plot

Thu Apr 16 2026 17:06:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

South African police have arrested Kemi Seba, a Beninese activist wanted for allegedly inciting rebellion connected to a coup plot in Benin. Seba, alongside his son, was apprehended during a failed escape attempt to Europe through Zimbabwe.

Kemi Seba, a French-born Beninese activist known for his anti-colonial stance, was arrested in South Africa while trying to flee to Zimbabwe. Wanted for inciting rebellion during a coup attempt in Benin, Seba's arrest highlights ongoing tensions in West African politics. He faces extradition and has a history of opposition to French influence in Africa.

Kemi Seba: Arrest of Activist Linked to Benin's Coup Plot

South African police have arrested Kemi Seba, a Beninese activist wanted for allegedly inciting rebellion connected to a coup plot in Benin. Seba, whose real name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, was apprehended while he and his son allegedly attempted to flee to Europe through Zimbabwe.

Authorities in South Africa reported that the arrest occurred in Pretoria during a sting operation at a shopping center. Alongside Seba, his 18-year-old son was also taken into custody, and a ‘facilitator’—purportedly paid to assist in their illegal transit—was detained.

Seba, aged 45, is prominent for his opposition to French influence in Africa and has been accused of spreading Russian propaganda. The police indicated that he is not only wanted in Benin but also in France for related criminal activities.

Investigators revealed that the facilitator had been compensated 250,000 South African rand (approximately $15,000) to aid in their escape across the Limpopo River to Zimbabwe, with plans to move on to Europe.

Following their court appearance on Wednesday, both Seba and his son remained in custody, with the case being deferred to April 20, as extradition processes are initiated.

Born in France to Beninese parents, Seba has a significant online following and leads the NGO, Pan-Africanist Emergency, which advocates for African sovereignty. His history includes multiple legal troubles in France for inciting racial hatred, and in 2024, he was stripped of his French citizenship, an act he publicly protested by burning his passport.

Amid growing tensions and military shifts in Africa, Seba had previously expressed support for military leaders in West Africa, a shift away from traditional alliances with France, moving closer to Russia instead. His arrest marks a notable moment in the ongoing discussions about political autonomy and influence in the region.