Pan-African activist Kemi Seba has been honored with the title of Doctor Honoris Causa in Political Science. The honorary distinction was conferred by Bel Campus University in Kinshasa in recognition of his ideological and political commitment to African emancipation and the diaspora, marking the culmination of a militant journey that began more than two decades ago.
Originally scheduled for March 25, 2025, the award ceremony had been postponed—a decision some observers attributed to political pressure. The activist publicly denounced the delay, citing interference by Congolese authorities allegedly influenced by Western powers.
The event finally took place with the support of several prominent pan-Africanist figures, including close associates of Niger’s military-led regime.
“This honorary doctorate, more than a personal accolade, celebrates the struggle for African self-determination in the 21st century,” said one of the special advisors to General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the Nigerien junta.
The recognition comes at a time of renewed pan-Africanist mobilization against the CFA franc, a cause emblematic of Kemi Seba’s activism. As the founder of the NGO Urgences Panafricanistes, the Franco-Beninese activist has over the years become one of the most prominent faces of African sovereignty advocacy, calling for a break from former colonial powers and a political re-foundation across the continent.
The awarding of this distinction in Kinshasa, despite the initial tensions, stands as a powerful symbolic gesture for proponents of radical pan-Africanism, especially in a context where several countries in the region are undergoing significant political shifts.