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South Africa Arrests Activist Kemi Seba Sought by Benin Over ‘Inciting Rebellion’

The arrest sets up an extradition fight that could strain regional ties.

Overview

  • South African police arrested Kemi Seba in Pretoria on Monday, with a court keeping him in custody as extradition begins.
  • Police say a South African helper was paid about 250,000 rand to guide an illegal river crossing into Zimbabwe, and they seized roughly 318,000 rand and several phones.
  • Benin issued an international warrant on December 12 for “justifying crimes against state security and inciting rebellion” after he backed a December 7 coup attempt that was crushed with help from Nigeria and France.
  • He, his 18-year-old son and the alleged facilitator appeared in Pretoria’s Brooklyn Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, with the next hearing set for April 20.
  • Seba is a high-profile pan‑African activist who lost French nationality in 2024, is accused of pushing pro‑Russian narratives, and has advised Niger’s military leaders.