Anti-Western activist Kemi Seba seeks asylum in South Africa amid legal battle
Prominent Pan-African activist Kemi Seba has applied for political asylum in South Africa while facing immigration and extradition-related proceedings, his lawyer confirmed on Monday.
Seba, who was arrested in South Africa a week ago, appeared in a Pretoria court alongside his 18-year-old son and a South African co-accused. He is currently being held on charges related to alleged immigration violations while authorities also examine additional claims linked to his activities abroad.
His lawyer, Sesedi Phooko, told AFP that an asylum application has now been formally submitted, arguing that Seba is seeking protection under South African law while contesting his detention.
“Currently, we are only facing the charges of illegal immigration,” Phooko said. “We are also challenging that because we have already brought an application for political asylum in this country.”
According to a source close to Seba, he had overstayed his South African visa by approximately two months prior to his arrest.
Prosecutors in Pretoria have requested additional time to investigate several aspects of the case, including the authenticity of Seba’s passport, his residency status, and allegations of possible money laundering. Authorities say he was arrested during a sting operation in which more than 315,000 rand (about $19,200) was allegedly found in connection with an attempted cross-border movement plan involving Zimbabwe.
The case has also drawn international attention due to Seba’s political profile and his long history of activism against Western influence in Africa. Born in France to parents from Benin, Seba is widely known for his Pan-African and anti-French rhetoric and has built a significant following of around 1.5 million social media users.
He has also increasingly aligned himself with Russia, portraying Moscow as a counterbalance to Western powers in Africa. His critics, including some European lawmakers, have accused him of spreading Russian-aligned narratives, an allegation he denies.
Seba is currently wanted in Benin on charges of inciting rebellion following his public support for a failed coup attempt in December. After the unrest, he posted messages online describing the event as a “day of liberation,” referring to mutinous soldiers who briefly claimed to have overthrown the government of President Patrice Talon.
The coup attempt was quickly suppressed with assistance from regional allies, including Nigeria and France. Benin has since issued an international arrest warrant for Seba, although his legal team claims that an official extradition request has not yet been submitted.
Seba also holds a diplomatic passport issued by Niger’s military government following the 2023 coup in that country, a detail that prosecutors say forms part of their ongoing investigation into his movements and affiliations.
Authorities in South Africa say Seba was attempting to travel onward to Zimbabwe when he was arrested along with his son and another co-accused individual allegedly assisting in the arrangement.
His case has been postponed to later this month, with a bail application expected to be heard as legal proceedings continue.
Seba’s political career has long been marked by controversy. He has previously been expelled from several African countries, including Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Guinea, over protests and activism directed at France’s historical and ongoing influence in the region. In France, he has been convicted of incitement to racial hatred and was stripped of his citizenship in 2024.
Supporters argue that he is being targeted for his political views and activism, while critics describe him as a destabilising figure whose rhetoric has crossed into extremism.
As South African authorities weigh the asylum request alongside immigration and extradition considerations, the case is likely to test the intersection of political expression, international law, and regional security cooperation.
