Leader of self-styled 'African kingdom' in Scottish Borders is finally deported from Britain

Dan McDonald
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 03:26:12 +0000

The leader of a self-styled African kingdom in the Scottish Borders has finally been deported from Britain, the Home Office has confirmed.

Ghanian national Kofi Offeh - also known as King Atehene - established the camp alongside two women in a woodland near Jedburgh last year.

The three-person collective claimed to be reclaiming territory that was taken from their forebears four centuries ago.

After repeated attempts were made to remove them from the area, they were finally evicted in October.

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Mr Offeh was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences following the eviction - and has now been returned to his home country of Ghana, landing in Accra earlier this week.

Conservative councillor Scott Hamilton said it was a "huge relief" to hear that the self-proclaimed tribal King had been booted out of Britain.

He said: "When we reflect on what actually happened last year in Jedburgh, I don't think we can ever make sense of it.

"They were a group who were filled with so much hatred, they caused so much aggravation in the community, thank goodness we have finally got rid of them."

During their time in the Scottish Borders, the group documented their daily lives on social media, amassing more than 100,000 followers on TikTok and Facebook.

But relations quickly soured between locals and the tribe, with numerous reports of physical altercations and fires originating from the group.

The Kingdom of Kubala claimed their ancestors were expelled from the land by Elizabeth I, who they say deported "native Jacobites".

Mr Offeh's followers believe their leader is a direct descendant of David the Messiah.

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The group were served a numerous eviction notices, but they ignored them after not recognising the legitimacy of the courts.

At the time, Mr Offeh said: "The creator of the heavens and the Earth is the one with us... We are not afraid of whatever the court - the so-called court - has granted."

Since his deportation back to Ghana, the self-proclaimed King has set his sights on establishing a new realm closer to home.

Speaking to Kofi TV outside Accra International Airport on Wednesday, he said he would focus on a territory in Sunyani, a city in northwestern Ghana.

He described the area as "Sun City", adding that it is "where the sunshine starts in Ghana".

Mr Offeh declared: "I have come to take over Ghana because I am King of Kubala.

"Everywhere I land, I take dominion - where I establish my throne, so the time has come.

"Everyone will bow before me, whether chiefs, politicians or even the police are going to serve me."