Prominent Pan-African and pro-Russian activist Kemi Seba has applied for political asylum in South Africa while being detained over immigration-related offences, according to his lawyer.
Seba, born in France to parents from Benin, was arrested in South Africa about a week ago after allegedly overstaying his visa. He is also wanted in Benin on charges of inciting rebellion linked to his alleged support for a foiled coup attempt in December.
Appearing in a Pretoria court alongside his 18-year-old son and a South African co-accused, Seba’s legal team confirmed that an asylum application has been submitted. His lawyer, Sesedi Phooko, said the case currently centres on illegal immigration charges, while also challenging the validity of the allegations against him.
“Currently, we are only facing the charges of illegal immigration,” Phooko told AFP, adding that the asylum application had already been filed.
Prosecutors, however, have requested a postponement to verify Seba’s passport, residency status, and alleged involvement in money laundering. Authorities also confirmed he was arrested on 13 April during an operation in which he was found with approximately 315,000 rand.
Seba is reported to hold a diplomatic passport issued by Niger’s military government, which came to power after the 2023 coup.
Benin authorities issued an international arrest warrant for Seba in December after he publicly supported a failed coup attempt against President Patrice Talon. Prosecutors in Benin are yet to formally submit an extradition request to South African authorities.
Following the December unrest, Seba—an outspoken critic of France’s influence in Africa—described the attempted takeover as a “day of liberation” for Benin. The coup attempt was swiftly suppressed with assistance from regional allies including Nigeria and France.
Seba, whose real name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, has built a large online following of over 1.5 million, positioning himself as a vocal critic of Western influence in Africa and an advocate of closer ties with Russia. He has repeatedly accused France of neo-colonial interference in West Africa.
Over the years, Seba has faced legal action and expulsions from multiple African countries, including Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso. He was also stripped of his French nationality in 2024 after being convicted in France for inciting racial hatred.
His case in South Africa has been postponed to 29 April for a bail hearing, with all three accused remaining in custody.
