South African police have arrested the high-profile pan-African activist Kemi Seba in Pretoria, where he is wanted in Benin on charges of “inciting rebellion” following his alleged support for a failed coup attempt earlier this year.
Seba, a French-born Beninese political figure whose real name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, was detained on Monday alongside his 18-year-old son and a third man accused of facilitating an attempt to move them illegally across borders towards Zimbabwe and ultimately Europe, according to police.
The arrest took place at a shopping mall in Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital, in an operation carried out by immigration officials and law enforcement officers. Police said preliminary investigations suggested Seba was “a wanted fugitive in France and Benin for criminal activities relating to crimes against the state”.
The trio briefly appeared in court this week, where they faced charges including conspiracy to commit a crime and contravention of South Africa’s Immigration Act. They were remanded in custody pending further proceedings, with the case postponed until 20 April as extradition processes are expected to begin.
Seba’s detention marks a significant escalation in a long-running standoff between the activist and several west African and European governments. In December, Benin issued an international arrest warrant for him after he publicly supported a foiled coup attempt in which mutinous soldiers briefly claimed to have overthrown President Patrice Talon.
Shortly after the attempted takeover, Seba posted a video message describing the events as “the day of liberation” for Benin. The coup was quickly suppressed by the Beninese army, with reported support from Nigerian and French forces.
Seba has built a large following across francophone Africa and the diaspora, positioning himself as a leading voice in the pan-African movement. He heads the NGO Pan-Africanist Emergency and has more than 1.5 million followers on social media platforms, where he regularly posts criticism of France’s continuing influence in its former African colonies and of African governments seen as aligned with Paris.
Over the past decade, Seba has become one of the most prominent and controversial figures in contemporary pan-African activism. He has frequently denounced what he describes as “neo-colonial” structures linking France and several west African states, and has expressed support for military juntas that have taken power through coups in parts of the Sahel region in recent years, arguing that they represent a break from entrenched political systems tied to former colonial powers.
His rhetoric has drawn condemnation from French and African officials alike, and he was stripped of his French nationality in 2024, a move that underscored his increasingly fraught relationship with European authorities.
South African police have not provided full details of the alleged escape route that led to his arrest, but said the third suspect had allegedly been paid to assist in moving Seba and his son across borders in contravention of immigration laws. Authorities say investigations are continuing into possible wider networks involved in facilitating his travel.
The case comes amid heightened sensitivity across southern Africa over political fugitives and cross-border movements linked to unrest in parts of west and central Africa. Regional governments have increasingly cooperated on security and extradition matters, particularly where allegations involve political violence or attempted insurrection.
Seba’s legal team has not yet issued a detailed public response to the charges. However, supporters of the activist have previously argued that legal actions against him are politically motivated and linked to his outspoken criticism of western influence in Africa.