South African police have arrested Kemi Seba, a prominent pan-African activist wanted by Benin for inciting rebellion after supporting an attempted coup in December 2025. The arrest took place at a shopping center in Pretoria, where Seba was accompanied by his 18-year-old son and a South African national who allegedly facilitated their planned escape to Europe via Zimbabwe.
Key Takeaways
South African authorities have arrested Kemi Seba, a prominent pan-African activist wanted by Benin for inciting rebellion after supporting an attempted coup. He was detained along with his son and a South African facilitator who allegedly helped them plan to flee to Europe via Zimbabwe. Seba is also wanted in France for crimes against the state.
- Kemi Seba arrested in Pretoria on charges of inciting rebellion
- Activist accused of supporting failed Benin coup attempt
- Seba's son and a South African facilitator detained with him
- Police allege facilitator was paid R250,000 to assist escape route
According to police statements, preliminary investigations reveal that Seba is wanted in both France and Benin for criminal activities relating to crimes against the state. The activist, born Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi in France to Beninese parents, has been a vocal critic of French influence in West Africa and has adopted a pro-Russian stance.
South African authorities allege that the facilitator was paid approximately R250,000 ($15,300) to help Seba and his son cross the Limpopo River into Zimbabwe with the intention of proceeding to Europe. Police also confiscated cellphones and about R318,000 during the arrest. Seba has been remanded in custody until April 20, along with his son and the South African citizen.
Seba's supporters have denounced the arrest as politically motivated, with some suggesting it is an attempt to silence a prominent pan-African voice. The activist has not commented on the allegations against him. Seba was appointed adviser to Abdourahamane Tchiani, leader of Niger’s military government, after the Sahel state expelled French and other Western forces and deepened security ties with Russia.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.