Russia’s influence operations extend beyond Ukraine, reaching into Africa through a distinct “influence war.” Kémi Séba, a prominent social media figure, is identified as a key facilitator of this campaign. He has recently been stripped of his French nationality.
In Africa, Moscow leverages the support of various social media personalities. Among these is Kémi Séba, a 42-year-old Beninese pan-Africanist activist recognized for his strong anti-Western stances. A decree published in the French Journal officiel on Tuesday, July 9th, officially revoked his French citizenship.
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While his name might not be widely recognized globally, Kémi Séba holds a celebrity status across Francophone Africa. His rallies attract thousands, and his online presence boasts over a million Facebook followers, with YouTube videos garnering hundreds of thousands of views. Following the revocation of his French nationality, he tweeted, “No more French nationality, glory to God. I am liberated from this burden.” Previously, Kémi Séba led the Tribu Ka, a Black supremacist and antisemitic group disbanded by French courts in 2006, and he has faced convictions for inciting racial hatred. He now portrays himself as a 21st-century African revolutionary.
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Kémi Séba first came to 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 presence in Africa. The Wagner Group expanded its operations across the African continent through mercenary activities, mineral exploitation, and the cultivation of pro-Russian influence networks. A 2023 investigation by the weekly publication Jeune Afrique indicated that Evgueni Prigojine directly funded and orchestrated some of Kémi Séba’s initiatives.
Through his NGO, Urgence Panafricaines, Kémi Séba conducts numerous international conferences, drawing large crowds from Brazil to Iran, and including Russia and Venezuela. He was also an invited participant at the Russia-Africa summit hosted by Vladimir Poutine in Saint Petersburg. In France, the president of the National Assembly’s Defense Commission accused him in 2023 of acting as a “conduit for Russian propaganda” and serving “a foreign power that fuels anti-French sentiment.”
His primary targets include Françafrique and the CFA franc, which he labels as a colonial currency. While publicly denying Russian influence, Kémi Séba consistently supports African nations that align with Moscow after disengaging from France. He has openly applauded coups d’état in countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. “Other countries will join this dynamic; we are working hard on it,” he stated just a few months ago.
