Benin Coup Case Exposes Russian-Linked Network Across Africa

New details from an extradition trial in South Africa have shed light on a network of pro-Russian actors operating across the Sahel and beyond, linked to a thwarted coup in Benin last December. The mutiny, led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, collapsed within hours after Nigerian military intervention, but subsequent legal proceedings have revealed how local influencers and movements coordinate across borders. Benin has sought extradition of several individuals, including pro-Russian social media figure Kemi Seba, who fled to South Africa.