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Prominent Pan-African and pro-Russian activist, Kemi Seba, has applied for political asylum in South Africa after being detained for breaching immigration laws, his lawyer confirmed to AFP on Monday.
Seba, born in France to Beninese parents, was arrested last week in Pretoria. He faces charges of illegal immigration, as well as a looming international arrest warrant issued by Benin. Seba is wanted in Benin for his alleged involvement in supporting a failed coup attempt in December 2023, which saw soldiers unsuccessfully attempt to overthrow President Patrice Talon.
The 45-year-old activist, accompanied by his 18-year-old son, appeared in court on Monday. His South African lawyer, Sesedi Phooko, said that they had applied for political asylum and emphasised that the current charges were strictly related to immigration violations. Phooko further revealed that they were challenging the charges as the asylum request was pending.
Prosecutors have called for a postponement of proceedings, citing the need for further investigation into the authenticity of Seba’s passport, his residency status, and possible money-laundering activities. Seba holds a diplomatic passport issued by Niger’s military junta, which seized power in 2023.
In a sting operation that led to his arrest, South African authorities found Seba with more than 315,000 rand in his possession, allegedly for transport to Zimbabwe with his son. Phooko noted that no request for Seba’s extradition has been made yet, as the international arrest warrant remains unfiled.
Seba’s political involvement has drawn significant attention. After the December coup attempt in Benin, he posted a video calling it a “day of liberation”. The coup was quickly suppressed with the help of Nigeria and France.
A vocal anti-Western figure, Seba has been accused of spreading Russian propaganda. In 2024, he was stripped of his French nationality after being convicted in France for incitement to racial hatred.
Seba, who has a large social media following of 1.5 million, remains a divisive figure in global politics.
The court case has been postponed to April 29 for a bail application, with Seba and his companions remaining in police custody for the time being.
