Investigation reveals that Yevgeny Prigozhin financially supported Pan-Africanist activist Kemi Séba

Franco-Beninese activist Kémi Séba, June 26, 2020 in Paris. (Illustrative image) AFP - STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN

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Kémi Séba would have received more than $ 400,000 in financial aid from the Russian group Wagner, pointed out for the abuses committed by its mercenaries in several countries, especially African, says Jeune Afrique in an investigation into the financial links between the Franco-Beninese activist and Evgueni Prigozhine, the boss of the paramilitary group.

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In collaboration with the magazine "Sources" of Arte/CAPA, the German daily Die Welt, as well as the organizations All Eyes On Wagner and Dossier Center, the magazine Jeune Afrique relies on dozens of internal documents from several entities belonging to the Russian billionaire. They show that Kémi Séba was taken care of by different structures of Yevgeny Prigozhin for more than a year, from May 2018 to July 2019.

These documents from various structures belonging to the Yevgeny Prigozhin galaxy reveal several times a certain "Kemi project". One document, for example, states that Wagner's boss's group advises and informs Kémi Seba by providing research materials, wants to build a pan-African party and develops its media resources.

The investigation also shows that during this period, the activist received several successive payments of tens of thousands of dollars, 440,000 in total.

Trip to St. Petersburg

Another file reports that between April and May 2019, Kemi Seba traveled to St. Petersburg, Prigozhin's hometown. A visit during which the neo-Pan-Africanist was able to enjoy all expenses paid a football match, a posh restaurant, a boat cruise on the Neva River and a traditional Russian bath. All for nearly 10,000 euros. The applicant denies this and states that he only received logistical support in the form of airline tickets.

Kémi Séba never denied having met or received support from Wagner's conductor, as long as he did not impose anything on him. He says he hasn't spoken to her for years, especially since Prigozhin asked him to carry out violent actions in Africa.

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Read on on the same topics:

• Africa
• Russia
• Corruption