Benin: Kemi Seba announces his ex-partner’s arrest
Beninese activist Kemi Seba announced, on Monday, December 22, 2025, the arrest of his ex-partner through a video published on his Facebook page. This arrest comes as the pan-African influencer himself is targeted by an international arrest warrant for his alleged support of the thwarted coup attempt in Benin.
It was through a highly publicized media appearance that Kemi Seba revealed the arrest of his ex-partner, without providing precise details about the exact circumstances, the location, or the charges against her. In the video, the activist denounces what he calls retaliations tied to his political engagement and to his public statements against President Patrice Talon’s regime.
This announcement comes as Kemi Seba has been in the crosshairs of Benin’s justice system since the attempted coup on Sunday, December 7, 2025. That day, mutineers claimed on national television that they had overthrown the Beninese head of state.
A statement quickly contradicted by the army, which retook control of the situation with the support of neighboring Nigeria and France. At the height of this crisis, Kemi Seba had publicly hailed what he called the “day of liberation” for Benin.
Following these remarks, the pan-African influencer and a figure known for his anti-Western positions is being pursued for “praising crimes against state security and incitement to rebellion.” An international arrest warrant was issued against him by the authorities in Cotonou on Friday, December 12.
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