The arrest caps months of cross-border pursuit of one of West Africa’s most polarizing pro-coup voices, whose public celebration of the attempted Beninese overthrow drew an Interpol-backed warrant and whose anti-France advocacy has made him a figure of controversy across Francophone Africa.
PRETORIA — South African police arrested prominent Beninese activist Kemi Seba on Thursday in a sting operation in Pretoria, charging him and his son with conspiracy to commit a crime and immigration violations as Benin seeks his extradition on allegations of inciting rebellion after a failed coup.
Seba, 45, whose birth name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, was taken into custody alongside his son during the operation in Pretoria, South Africa’s capital, police said. Interpol assisted in the arrest.
Police said they can confirm that Seba “is indeed a wanted fugitive in Benin in relation to crimes against the state.”
The charges
Seba and his son were accused of planning illegal migration to Europe via Zimbabwe, police said. A third accomplice, also held in detention, was accused of paying roughly R250,000 — approximately $15,000 — to facilitate the cross-border movements.
The three appeared at the Brooklyn magistrates’ court on Wednesday, where the case was rescheduled until April 20, according to police. Seba was placed in police custody as authorities plan to extradite him to Benin.
Benin warrant and the coup video
Benin issued an international arrest warrant against Seba in December, charging him with “incitement to rebellion” after he posted a video on social media expressing support for a coup attempt against President Patrice Talon. In the video, Seba was seen celebrating the attempted overthrow as successful, calling it “the day of liberation” and describing the soldiers involved as “patriotic.”
Background
Seba has been a vocal supporter of recent military coups in West Africa and of the pro-Russian sentiments expressed by the coup leaders in those countries. He has strongly criticized France, Benin’s former colonial ruler, over its economic and political interests in Benin and the broader West African region. His French citizenship was revoked in 2024.