The disturbing partnership between Kemi Seba and white supremacist groups in South Africa
Following his involvement in a failed December 2025 coup in Benin, Kemi Seba has been detained in South Africa. The details surrounding his capture reveal a startling development: the activist, known for his Pan-Africanist rhetoric, was caught alongside a white supremacist figure whose ideology is diametrically opposed to Black empowerment.
An unlikely duo: Kemi Seba and the Bittereinders
On Wednesday, April 15, South African authorities apprehended Seba alongside 26-year-old François van der Merwe. Van der Merwe leads the “Bittereinders,” an extremist group dedicated to protecting the Afrikaner minority from what they describe as “anti-white discrimination.” This group, currently under surveillance by the State Security Agency (SSA), reportedly commands hundreds of armed followers.
The Russian connection: Konstantin Malofeev
The bridge between these two disparate figures is the “Society of the Double-Headed Eagle,” also referred to as the Tsargrad network. This organization is managed by Konstantin Malofeev, an ultra-conservative Russian oligarch. Malofeev has faced international sanctions since 2014 for his financial support of Russian separatists in Ukraine and is currently under investigation by New York prosecutors for sanctions violations.
Moscow’s role in the narrative
Last September, Van der Merwe visited Moscow at Malofeev’s request. Since that trip, Russian state media has heavily promoted the young Afrikaner. Despite previous arrests for brawling and public order offenses, Kremlin-backed outlets have rebranded him as a “political prisoner,” even staging support rallies near the Kremlin.
From anti-colonialist to political pawn
In this complex geopolitical strategy, Kemi Seba seems to have transitioned from an independent activist to a strategic tool. A man who built his reputation on resisting “Western supremacy” is now linked to a movement that seeks to uphold racial hierarchies dating back to the Apartheid era.
By partnering with the Bittereinders, Seba has aligned himself with a group that views the Black majority in South Africa as an enemy. Because the Bittereinders are designated as a terrorist organization in South Africa, Seba faces grave allegations of assisting their operations. The legal consequences for the Beninese activist are expected to be significantly more severe than initially suggested by early reports.
