The political movement ADCI has strongly condemned the travel ban imposed on its president, Assalé Tiémoko Antoine, who was prevented from boarding a flight to Canada on May 11, 2026. In an official statement, the party expressed its astonishment at this unnotified measure, perceiving it as a deliberate act of political humiliation. ADCI is now demanding immediate clarification regarding this restriction, which they argue infringes upon fundamental citizen rights and dignity in Côte d’Ivoire.
On Monday, May 11, 2026, Assalé Tiémoko Antoine, who leads the political movement Aujourd’hui et Demain la Côte d’Ivoire (ADCI), faced an unexpected barrier to his planned departure for Canada. He was scheduled to begin a political mobilization tour across North America. This incident follows a previous assurance on April 23, 2026, when Deputy Prosecutor Abou Sherif confirmed to Assalé Tiémoko Antoine that his custody had been lifted, reinstating his full freedom of movement. After being discharged from the hospital on Saturday, April 25, 2026, the ADCI President had resumed his public activities following a week of recuperation.
Significantly, from April 22, 2026, until the present day, neither Assalé Tiémoko Antoine nor his legal representatives received any official notification of new restrictive measures against him, such as an indictment or judicial supervision. His intended journey to North America was part of a well-established plan 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 for this crucial political tour was set for May 12 to May 26, 2026, with his return to Abidjan slated for May 27.
Upon arrival at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan, President Assalé Tiémoko Antoine calmly completed all necessary exit formalities without any indication or notification of a travel prohibition. However, just 20 minutes before his scheduled boarding, a police officer approached him and requested that he accompany him to the airport commissioner’s office.
At the commissioner’s office, Assalé Tiémoko Antoine was informed that the Public Prosecutor had issued instructions preventing him from traveling and requiring him to notify the prosecutor before any future flights. Despite his efforts, all attempts 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 home without further impediment.
ADCI’s Stance on the Travel Restriction
The ADCI political movement expressed profound surprise that, since April 22, 2026, the Public Prosecutor had failed to inform either its president or his legal counsel of any restrictive measures against him. This latest incident, they assert, feels like a calculated trap designed to publicly humiliate Assalé Tiémoko. ADCI reiterated that Assalé Tiémoko is a committed republican who deeply respects state institutions and has never harbored any intention of evading justice.
ADCI firmly believes that public action within a republic should always be conducted with grace and full adherence to human dignity. The movement further contends that any restriction on a citizen’s movement, especially for an elected national figure, must be explicitly and formally communicated to them. In closing, ADCI urged its supporters to maintain calm and composure, promising to keep them updated on future developments concerning this significant matter.
For ADCI,
The Executive Secretary
Roger Youan