The political movement ADCI has strongly denounced the travel prohibition imposed on its leader, Assalé Tiémoko Antoine, who was barred from boarding a flight to Canada on May 11, 2026. In an official statement, the party expressed profound surprise at this unnotified measure, perceiving it as a deliberate act of political humiliation and demanding immediate clarification regarding a restriction deemed an affront to fundamental rights and human dignity.
On Monday, May 11, 2026, Assalé Tiémoko Antoine, who chairs the political movement “Aujourd’hui et Demain la Côte d’Ivoire” (ADCI), faced an unexpected travel impediment at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport, preventing his departure for Canada. He was scheduled to commence a crucial political outreach tour across North America. This incident follows a period where, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, Deputy Prosecutor Abou Sherif had explicitly informed Mr. Tiémoko Antoine that his provisional detention was lifted, granting him full freedom of movement. After being discharged from the hospital on Saturday, April 25, 2026, the ADCI President had resumed his public duties following a week of recuperation.
Crucially, between April 22, 2026, and the day of this current event, neither Assalé Tiémoko nor his legal representatives received any official notification of restrictive measures, such as an indictment or judicial supervision. His planned journey to North America was part of a well-established strategy to expand ADCI’s presence among the Ivorian diaspora, a tour publicly announced during a seminar in Nantes in March 2026 and widely known within the movement’s various branches. The itinerary spanned from May 12 to May 26, 2026, with his return to Abidjan slated for May 27.
At Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan, President Assalé Tiémoko Antoine proceeded calmly through all standard outbound immigration procedures. No information regarding any travel prohibition was communicated to him at this stage. However, merely 20 minutes before his scheduled boarding, a police officer approached him, requesting he accompany them to the airport commissioner’s office. There, the commissioner relayed that the Public Prosecutor had issued direct instructions, stating Mr. Tiémoko “cannot travel” and that he was required to notify the prosecutor prior to any flight. All subsequent efforts by Assalé Tiémoko to contact the prosecutor proved unsuccessful. He remained at the police premises until his flight departed at 9:10 PM, after which he was permitted to return to his home without further impediment.
ADCI’s Official Stance
The ADCI political movement expressed deep astonishment that, since April 22, 2026, the Public Prosecutor had failed to notify its president, or his legal counsel, of any restrictive measures against him, leading to an incident that feels orchestrated as a “trap” designed for humiliation. ADCI firmly asserts that Assalé Tiémoko is a staunch republican, dedicated to upholding the nation’s institutions, and has never harbored any intention of evading justice. The movement maintains that in any republic, public actions must be conducted with grace and full deference to human dignity. Furthermore, ADCI contends that when a restriction on movement is imposed on any citizen, particularly an elected national official, clear and formal notification is imperative. Finally, ADCI urges its supporters to maintain calm and composure, promising to keep them abreast of all future developments in this significant matter.
For ADCI,
The Executive Secretary,
Roger Youan
