African activist Kemi Seba, a well-known anti-Western figure, was released from French custody without facing any charges after being detained for two days, according to prosecutors on Thursday.
Seba, whose birth name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, was arrested on Monday under suspicion of “foreign interference” in French affairs.
According to AFP, the arrest followed a history of legal action against him in France, where he has previously been sentenced on multiple occasions for incitement to racial hatred.
He is often labeled as an anti-Semitic figure by critics, further amplifying his controversial profile.
Additionally, Seba was stripped of his French nationality in July, a move that fueled further debate around his activism and the political context of his actions.
Though the prosecutor’s office confirmed his release on Wednesday, preliminary investigations into potential “foreign interference” remain ongoing.
Seba’s lawyer, Juan Branco, condemned the arrest, characterizing it as part of an investigation into “intelligence sharing involving a foreign power” and efforts to “stir up hostilities or acts of aggression against France.”
Such allegations carry severe consequences, with Branco noting that a conviction on these grounds could result in a prison sentence of up to 30 years.
The interrogation also touched on accusations that Seba had passed information to a foreign intelligence agency, potentially endangering France’s national security.
If found guilty of this, Seba could face a maximum of 10 years in prison, according to Branco.
At the same time, Hery Djehuty, who coordinates the “Urgences Panafricanistes” NGO of which Seba is president, was also taken into custody.
He too has since been released. Seba, who holds a diplomatic passport issued by Niger, had come to France to visit his ailing father when he was unexpectedly detained in what Branco described as a “violent” street arrest.
The lawyer decried the event, accusing French authorities of attempting to “criminalize a political opponent and intellectual.” He called the situation “extremely worrying.”
Seba has a long history of activism, particularly within Africa, where he has been a vocal critic of the CFA franc— a currency used by 14 African nations but largely controlled by France.
Opponents of the CFA franc argue that it is a remnant of French colonial influence, a stance that Seba has fervently advocated in his Pan-Africanist activities.
Born in France to parents of Beninese origin, Seba’s political ideology has earned him accusations from prominent French figures.
Notably, French lawmaker Thomas Gassilloud, who chaired the National Assembly’s defense committee in 2023, accused Seba of acting as a “mouthpiece for Russian propaganda” and serving “a foreign power that fuels anti-French sentiment.”
These accusations have further stoked controversy around Seba, who has publicly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Two organizations founded by Seba, including Tribu K, were dissolved by the French justice ministry due to their alleged promotion of “racist and anti-Semitic” ideologies, reflecting the deep divisions Seba’s activism has sparked in both Africa and Europe.
Despite these setbacks, Seba remains a prominent figure within the Pan-African movement, which seeks to unite people of African descent and has long been a driving force in the continent’s struggles against colonialism and Western influence.
