French-born Pan-African activist Kemi Seba, a prominent critic of Western influence in Africa, has applied for political asylum in South Africa after being arrested in Pretoria for overstaying his visa by roughly two months. The 45-year-old, who holds a diplomatic passport issued by Niger's ruling military junta, is also wanted in the West African nation of Benin on charges of inciting rebellion following his public support for a failed coup in December 2024. His case has been postponed to 29 April for a bail hearing, while prosecutors investigate the authenticity of his passport and alleged money laundering, and Benin has yet to formally submit an extradition request.
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Friday, 29 May 2026
Pan-African activist Kemi Seba seeks asylum in South Africa after immigration arrest[Updated]
Monday, 20 April 2026, 16:04 · 1 min read
Updates
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South African authorities have confirmed that investigations into Seba's travel documents, residency status, and alleged financial activities remain ongoing ahead of the 29 April bail hearing. No additional new details on the extradition timeline or the status of Benin's formal request have been disclosed by either government.
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Benin authorities have moved forward with formal extradition proceedings against Seba, signalling a more active pursuit of his case than previously indicated. South African police say Seba was detained alongside one of his sons and a facilitator, and that the group had allegedly been attempting to illegally cross into Zimbabwe via the Limpopo River, reportedly with the intention of continuing onward to Europe.
Original story
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