Par Isabelle Labeyrie
While Russia wages a physical conflict in Ukraine, it simultaneously engages in an influence campaign across Africa. Kémi Séba, a prominent social media personality, stands out as a significant conduit in this effort. He has recently been stripped of his French citizenship.
Across the African continent, Moscow garners backing from influential social media figures. Among these is Kémi Séba, a 42-year-old Beninese pan-Africanist activist widely recognized for his vehement anti-Western stances. His French nationality was officially revoked by a decree published in France’s Journal officiel on Tuesday, July 9th, dated the preceding Monday.
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While his name might not be universally known, Kémi Séba commands considerable fame in Francophone Africa. His rallies draw thousands, and he boasts over a million followers on Facebook, with his YouTube videos attracting hundreds of thousands of views. Following his denaturalization, he tweeted: “No more French nationality, glory to God. I am liberated from this burden.” Séba, who was previously convicted for inciting racial hatred, led the Tribu Ka, a Black supremacist and antisemitic organization disbanded by French courts in 2006. He now frames himself as a 21st-century African revolutionary.
Star of social media and public speaker
Kémi Séba first caught the Kremlin’s attention approximately a decade ago when Vladimir Poutine tasked Evgueni Prigojine, the late head of the Wagner Group (who died on August 23, 2023), with establishing a foothold in Africa. The Wagner Group expanded its presence across the continent through mercenary activities, mining ventures, and the cultivation of pro-Russian influence networks. An investigation by the weekly publication Jeune Afrique in 2023 revealed that Evgueni Prigojine directly funded and commissioned Kémi Séba’s activities.
Through his NGO, Urgence Panafricaines, Séba frequently holds well-attended conferences globally, from Brazil to Iran, and including Russia and Venezuela. He also received an invitation to the Russia-Africa summit, hosted in Saint Petersburg by Vladimir Poutine. In France, the president of the National Assembly’s Defense commission accused him in 2023 of serving as a “relay for Russian propaganda” and supporting “a foreign power that fuels anti-French sentiment.”
His primary targets include Françafrique and the CFA franc, which he labels a colonial currency. While denying Russian influence, Kémi Séba consistently backs African nations that pivot towards Moscow after severing ties with France. He has applauded every coup d’état in countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Just a few months ago, he stated, “Other countries will join this dynamic; we are working hard on it.”