Gambiaj.com – (PRETORIA, South Africa) – Self-proclaimed Pan-African activist Kemi Seba has been arrested in Pretoria, intensifying a high-stakes regional standoff over his alleged role in supporting a failed coup in Benin and his growing alignment with military juntas across the Sahel.
Seba, whose real name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, was intercepted by South African police on April 15 while transiting through the country.
According to judicial sources cited by Jeune Afrique, he is currently in detention awaiting transfer to Cotonou, where authorities have issued charges against him.
Accused of Backing Failed Benin Coup
Beninese prosecutors, through the Court for the Repression of Economic and Terrorism Offences (CRIET), are pursuing Seba on allegations of “apology for crimes against state security and incitement to rebellion.” The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the failed coup attempt of December 7, 2025, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri.
Investigators accuse Seba of actively participating in an information campaign during the attempted putsch, including publishing videos falsely claiming that President Patrice Talon had been overthrown. He is also alleged to have called on citizens to mobilize in support of mutinous soldiers.
Embedded in Sahel Junta Networks
Beyond the coup allegations, Seba’s case is drawing attention for what authorities describe as his deepening ties to military-led regimes in West Africa, particularly in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
According to the investigation, Seba serves as a special adviser to Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of Niger’s ruling junta. He is also said to operate within a broader pro-sovereigntist influence network that promotes the agenda of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a bloc formed by the three military governments.
Beninese intelligence services allege that Seba has played a central role in coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting Benin, working alongside actors such as Nathalie Yamb and structures like the Burkina Faso-linked Rapid Communication Intervention Brigade (BIR-C), described as a key propaganda arm of the junta in Ouagadougou.
Regional Tensions Deepen
The case underscores mounting geopolitical tensions between Benin and its Sahelian neighbors, particularly Niger.
Authorities in Cotonou suspect that Pascal Tigri, the alleged mastermind of the December coup attempt, may be hiding in Niger, an assertion that has further strained already fragile relations.
Meanwhile, other suspects linked to the plot, including opposition figure Sabi Sira Korogone, remain at large, while dozens of military personnel have already been detained.
Defiance Amid Legal Pressure
Despite mounting legal pressure, Seba has maintained a defiant posture. During Benin’s April 12 presidential election, won by Romuald Wadagni with over 94 percent of the vote, he continued to issue sharp criticisms and mobilization calls via social media.
His arrest now places him at the center of a widening confrontation between coastal West African democracies and the Sahel’s military regimes, with his extradition to Benin likely to test both legal frameworks and diplomatic relations across the region.
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