May 13, 2026
Kemi Seba, a pan-Africanist influencer born in Strasbourg, was arrested in South Africa under an arrest warrant issued by Benin. He is being prosecuted for “apology of crimes against state security” and “incitement to rebellion,” notably in connection with an attempted coup d’état against then president of Benin, Patrice Talon.
Already controversial for his positions and targeted by legal proceedings for racism and anti-Semitism, he also lost his French nationality in 2024. He was apprehended with one of his sons while traveling to Europe from Zimbabwe, according to several media reports in South Africa.
Beninese authorities accuse him of having supported the coup attempt, which was ultimately foiled with the support of regional and international partners. He is currently in pretrial detention, awaiting his appearance scheduled for April 20, as part of an extradition procedure.
In 2025, Kemi Seba traveled to Haiti as part of pan-africanist tour to mark the 10-year anniversary of his NGO, Urgence Panafricaniste (URPANAF).
