Baku Initiative Group urges global action over unlawful detention of pan-African activist

The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) has strongly condemned the unlawful detention of renowned activist and advocate for the rights of African peoples, Kémi Séba, by French law enforcement.

BIG's statement emphasises that this illegal act should not only be viewed as a blatant violation of personal liberty and human rights, but also as an attempt to undermine the African peoples' struggle against neocolonialism and for sovereignty, Caliber.Az reports.

"Kémi Séba is a political prisoner, and his arrest is directly connected to his political activities. The Baku Initiative Group calls on the international community, human rights defenders, and global organisations to denounce this unlawful act. We urge the French government to release Kémi Séba immediately and unconditionally," the statement reads.

Furthermore, BIG views this incident as an expression of France’s ongoing neocolonial policies in Africa, which have persisted for many years, and calls for global solidarity to initiate the process of decolonisation in the region.

Notably, Kemi Seba is a prominent activist and one of the leading critics of French neo-colonialism. He recently participated in a two-day international conference titled "French Neo-Colonial Policy in Africa," in Baku on October 2-3, where he talked about the devastating impact of French colonial policy on the African continent.

Seba arrived in Paris on October 10 from Spain. Having had his French citizenship revoked, he entered the country using a Nigerian diplomatic passport, issued to him by the military government, as he serves as a special advisor to the interim leader, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani.

He was arrested in France on October 14 along with Hery Djehuty, the organisation's coordinator, although the specific reasons for his arrest have not been disclosed.

Séba has been campaigning against imperialism for 25 years and has observed racial discrimination towards Black individuals.

Despite numerous efforts by French authorities to silence him, Séba remains steadfast in his activism. In response to the revocation of his citizenship, the president of Niger appointed him as a special advisor, and several African nations have provided him with a diplomatic passport.

Séba boasts a considerable social media following, with 1.3 million followers on Facebook, 370,000 on TikTok, 306,000 on Instagram, 280,000 on X, and 230,000 on YouTube.

By Aghakazim Guliyev