What to know about the pro-Russian activist arrested in South Africa and wanted in Benin

A pro-Russian activist accused of backing a failed coup in Benin appeared in court Wednesday in South Africa over separate charges of attempting to illegally leave that country with the help of a member of a far-right white nationalist group. Kémi Séba, a prominent Beninese influencer, faces charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and immigration violations. He also faces extradition to Benin, where he was declared wanted for “inciting rebellion” after publicly backing a failed coup there last December.

Séba, whose legal name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, was born in France to Beninese parents but was stripped of his French citizenship. He remains in custody after a judge Wednesday postponed a bail hearing to May 11. He has often been accused of pushing Russian propaganda in Africa, but he defends his activities as “pan-African.” Séba has publicly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and aligned himself with pro-Russian networks tied to late Wagner mercenary group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, according to the U.S.

State Department. Séba has also met with Russian authorities on several occasions. He has denied accusations of being a Russian agent.

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France convicted him multiple times for inciting racial hatred and he was stripped of his French citizenship in 2024. Shortly after, he was issued a diplomatic passport by Niger’s military junta, which made him a “special adviser” to the country’s leader, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani.

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