On Monday, French police arrested Beninese pan-Africanist Kemi Seba and his colleague Hery Djehuty in two separate incidents. Reports suggest it’s connected to Seba’s entry into France, even though he holds a Nigerien diplomatic passport and a Shengen visa issued by Spain, which allows him freedom of movement inside the European Union.
Seba has been a vocal critic of French neocolonialism in Africa. He has participated in protests against the CFA franc and tore up his French passport before Paris later revoked his citizenship. Seba was also recently appointed adviser to Niger’s revolutionary leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, who has done much to stand up to French neo-colonialism in his country.
The incident seems to fit nicely into the wider Western campaign to deplatform alternative, anti-imperialist, African voices – including yours truly, African Stream.