Russia may have financed the escape of an African influencer
Prosecutors in South Africa have stated that Russian money may have been behind the attempt by French-Beninese influencer Kemi Seba to leave the country illegally. The man, who is wanted by Benin in connection with an attempted coup, was detained along with his son and South African white nationalist François van der Merwe. According to investigators, Seba’s plan was to cross the Limpopo River and enter Zimbabwe.
Kemi Seba is the pseudonym of Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, a native of France and a well-known activist in West Africa. For years, he has been a vocal critic of France and Western influence in African countries. At the same time, his activities drew attention due to his dissemination of pro-Russian and anti-French statements. On April 13, Sebi, along with his son and François van der Merwe, was detained in Pretoria. According to prosecutors, the men were preparing to illegally leave South Africa via the Limpopo River to reach neighboring Zimbabwe.
Law enforcement officials were aware of the escape plans in advance. According to the prosecution, the police officers posed as employees of a private security company hired by van der Merwe. Their alleged mission was to help Sebi leave South Africa safely. During the arrest, law enforcement officers seized more than 300,000 South African rand—equivalent to over 18,000 U.S. dollars. Investigators are now trying to determine the origin of these funds and identify who financed the escape operation.
Investigators Are Looking for Russian Money
In court documents related to the extradition case, prosecutors have pointed to a possible Russian financial trail. South Africa’s Priority Crimes Investigation Directorate has asked the country’s financial authorities to trace the funds that van der Merwe allegedly received from Russians. According to investigators, this money may have been intended to organize a safe escort for Seba from South Africa to Zimbabwe.
The documents suggest that van der Merwe and Seba may have separate ties to Russia. At the same time, they represent completely different political and social circles. Seba is known as a black nationalist and anti-French activist in West Africa. Van der Merve, on the other hand, leads the South African white nationalist movement Bittereinders.
It is precisely this connection that prosecutors consider one of the key aspects of the case. Investigators are trying to determine whether their collaboration was coincidental or whether they were acting as part of a broader scheme. At the same time, it is important to note that the allegation of Russian funding is currently just a theory put forward by investigators. The final conclusions must be determined by the court.
Where Sebi Was Planned to Be Taken
According to court documents, Zimbabwe may have been only a stopover on the route. After that, Sebi was allegedly planned to be transported to Europe. The case file also contains allegations of possible preparations for terrorist attacks in Europe and the United Kingdom. Investigators claim that the man may have undergone training in Russia and posed a serious threat.
These allegations are particularly serious, but for now they remain merely claims made in the case files. The information provided does not contain any public court evidence that would definitively confirm these claims. Seba and van der Merve currently remain in custody. They have also petitioned the court to release them on bail.
Why Benin Is Searching for Seba
Seba’s legal troubles are not limited to South Africa. Benin issued an international arrest warrant for him after the influencer publicly expressed support for potential insurgents. In Benin, he faces charges of money laundering and terrorism. This is why Benin is seeking his extradition.
His name has become particularly well-known in West Africa due to his strident anti-French stance. Seba criticized France’s influence over its former colonies and advocated for greater independence of African states from Paris.
In 2024, France stripped him of his citizenship. French authorities accused Seba of inciting violence against the state. At the same time, his activities attracted the attention of more than just African and French officials.
What is Seba’s connection to Russia?
U.S. authorities had previously also claimed that Sebi had ties to Russian entities. In 2022, the U.S. State Department accused the Russian private military company “Wagner” of using him to spread pro-Russian narratives. In recent years, Russia has actively sought to strengthen its influence in African countries. In particular, Moscow has supported military regimes in a number of West African states and launched information campaigns directed against France and the West.
Seba, for his part, regularly made anti-French statements and disseminated content that aligned with Russian narratives about the West’s role in Africa. This is precisely why the South African investigation paid particular attention to Seba’s possible contacts with the Russian side.
The Russian trail also leads to the Bittereinders
Investigators see ties to Russia not only in Seba. The case files also mention François van der Merve, leader of the Bittereinders movement. Last year, he attended a meeting of far-right organizations in St. Petersburg. Among the participants was, in particular, the German party “Alternative for Germany.”
Now the prosecutor’s office is trying to determine whether van der Merve’s contacts with Russian representatives could be linked to the organization of Sebi’s escape. So far, there is no definitive answer to this question. The investigation continues to examine financial transfers and the connections of those involved in the case.
Why This Story Matters
The Seba case has attracted attention not only because of the attempted escape from South Africa. It may reveal just how complex the ties between Russian entities and various radical movements outside Russia have become. Several countries are involved in this story—South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom. While the individuals involved represent different political movements, according to the investigation, they may have had common contacts with Russia.
Currently, Kemi Seba and François van der Merwe remain in custody. South African law enforcement officials are continuing to investigate the source of the funds and the circumstances surrounding the escape attempt. If Russian funding is proven, the case could garner significantly broader international attention. However, at this stage, this is merely the prosecution’s theory, not a fact established by a court. This is reported by Bloomberg.
Russia, an aggressor state, has released 32-year-old former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, who was serving a sentence in a Russian prison. U.S. President Donald Trump announced this.
