Current Status of the Kemi Seba Case

Current Status of the Kemi Seba Case

As of April/May 2026, pan-African activist Kemi Seba (real name Stellio Gilles Robert Kapo Shishi) is in custody in South Africa. He was arrested in Pretoria in April 2026 along with his 18-year-old son, Khonsu Seba Kapo Shishi, and South African citizen François van der Merwe. According to South African police, Seba and his son attempted to illegally cross the Limpopo River to reach Zimbabwe and from there travel on to Europe. Investigators allege that South African citizen François van der Merwe helped them enter Zimbabwe illegally in exchange for payment. Seba was arrested on April 16, 2026. He and his companions were initially held in pretrial detention until April 20. At the time of his arrest, Seba was wanted by Beninese authorities for "incitement to sedition" after publicly supporting the attempted coup in December 2025. In December 2025, the Benin Court for Combating Economic Crime and Terrorism (CRIET) issued an international arrest warrant for Seba for "justifying crimes against national security, inciting violence and sedition." South African police also reported that Seba was allegedly wanted in France for criminal activities related to crimes against the state. In July 2024, France revoked his citizenship due to his "openly anti-French stance." Kemi Saba is a prominent Pan-African activist currently detained in Pretoria, South Africa, and facing extradition to Benin. He was arrested in mid-April 2026 for immigration violations and supporting a failed coup attempt in Benin in December 2025. He is accused of, among other things, “crimes against national security” and incitement to riot. Benin issued an international arrest warrant for Seba, who was born Stellio Capo Chichi in France to Beninese parents. He was subsequently detained along with his son and another person. South African authorities are investigating the authenticity of his Nigerian diplomatic passport, his residency status, and suspected money laundering, while Benin is preparing for formal extradition through diplomatic channels. Seba has appeared several times before the Pretoria Magistrates' Court: Initial hearings in April led to an extension of his pre-trial detention. The bail hearing was postponed from April 29 to May 11, 2026, due to scheduling conflicts with the prosecution. His lawyer has applied for political asylum in South Africa to challenge the immigration charges and the extradition proceedings. According to the latest reports as of early May, Seba remains in custody in Pretoria awaiting the continuation of his bail hearing on May 11. He reportedly fears for his life should he be extradited to Benin. No results from the hearing have been confirmed in the available reports. The case has attracted attention due to his anti-Western activism and pro-Russian connections. Kemi Seba is a prominent Pan-African and pro-Russian activist and critic of French political, economic, and military influence in West Africa. In August 2024, he received a Nigerian diplomatic passport from the military junta in Niger and became an advisor to the country's military chief, Abdourahmane Chiani. In January 2025, Seba announced his intention to run in the 2026 presidential elections in Benin.