Kemi Seba Tells South African Court he Fears Death if Deported to Benin
Last update: May 11, 2026
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Controversial anti-Western activist Kemi Seba has told a South African court that his life would be in danger if he is deported to Benin, as he battles immigration charges and an international arrest warrant linked to an alleged coup plot.
Firebrand anti-Western activist Kemi Seba has told a Pretoria court that he fears for his life if returned to Benin, where authorities accuse him of involvement in an alleged failed coup plot against President Patrice Talon.
CBI News reports that Seba, born in France to Beninese parents, was arrested in South Africa last month alongside his teenage son and a South African man for allegedly overstaying his visa.
During court proceedings, his lawyer, Bill Kobras, read from an affidavit in which Seba claimed he had deliberately avoided returning to Benin since May 2024 because of what he described as a “well-founded fear” for his safety under the current administration.
Benin authorities issued an international arrest warrant for Seba on December 12, accusing him of supporting mutinous soldiers who appeared on television claiming to have overthrown President Patrice Talon.
Seba argued that his visa overstay should be viewed within the context of his asylum request rather than treated as an ordinary immigration offence.
According to his legal team, Seba formally filed for asylum in South Africa on April 28.
Kobras also informed the court that Seba still needs to report to a refugee centre to complete biometric registration, a process delayed by his continued detention. He assured the court that Seba would comply within 24 hours if granted bail.
CBI News further gathered that Niger’s ruling military junta, which issued Seba a diplomatic passport after he lost his French citizenship in 2024, has offered to provide him accommodation in South Africa if released.
Seba, whose real name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, commands a strong online following of over 1.5 million supporters and is widely known for his fierce criticism of France’s political and military influence in West Africa.
In recent years, he has also openly aligned himself with Russia, presenting Moscow as a counterweight to Western influence in the Sahel region.
The court adjourned the matter until May 19 for final arguments and a decision on bail.
Until then, Seba, his son, and the South African co-accused will remain in police custody.
His lawyers maintain that deporting him to Benin would place him at serious risk, while authorities insist he must answer to immigration violations and the international warrant issued against him.
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