The political movement ADCI has voiced strong disapproval over the travel restriction placed on its leader, 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 unannounced directive, interpreting it as an act of political subjugation and demanding immediate clarification regarding this perceived affront to citizen’s rights and dignity.
On Monday, May 11, 2026, Assalé Tiémoko Antoine, who chairs the political organization Aujourd’hui et Demain la Côte d’Ivoire (ADCI), faced an unexpected impediment to his planned departure for Canada. He was scheduled to commence a political outreach tour across North America. This incident follows an earlier development on Thursday, April 23, 2026, when Deputy Prosecutor Abou Sherif had officially communicated to Mr. Tiémoko Antoine that his detention measure had been lifted, reinstating his complete freedom of movement. After being discharged from the hospital on Saturday, April 25, 2026, the ADCI President had resumed his public engagements following a period of recuperation.
Crucially, since April 22, 2026, neither Mr. Tiémoko Antoine nor his legal representatives had received any official notification of judicial restrictions against him, including any formal indictment or supervisory orders. His planned journey to North America was part of a well-established itinerary to solidify ADCI’s presence among the Ivorian diaspora, a tour publicly declared during a seminar in Nantes in March 2026 and widely known throughout the movement’s various branches. The itinerary specified a travel period from May 12 to May 26, 2026, with his return to Abidjan scheduled for May 27.
At Abidjan’s Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport, President Assalé Tiémoko Antoine proceeded through all necessary departure procedures without encountering any issues or being informed of a travel prohibition. However, approximately 20 minutes prior to his scheduled boarding, a police officer approached him, requesting he accompany him to the airport commissioner’s office.
There, the commissioner relayed that the Public Prosecutor had issued an instruction, stating Mr. Tiémoko Antoine « cannot travel » and required him to notify the prosecutor before any future flight. All efforts by Mr. Tiémoko Antoine 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 residence without further constraint.
The stance of ADCI
The ADCI political movement expresses profound bewilderment that, since April 22, 2026, the Public Prosecutor had not communicated any restrictive measures concerning its president, nor his legal counsel, until this recent event. This sequence of actions creates the impression of a deliberate scheme designed to publicly discredit him. ADCI emphatically asserts that Assalé Tiémoko is a committed republican, deeply dedicated to upholding the nation’s institutions, and has consistently demonstrated no intention of sidestepping legal processes.
ADCI firmly believes that in any true Republic, public legal actions must be conducted with grace and full respect for human dignity. Furthermore, the movement contends that when a citizen, particularly an elected representative, faces a restriction on their movement, they are entitled to clear and formal notification. Finally, ADCI appeals to its members for calm and composure, assuring them of ongoing updates regarding this unfolding situation.
For ADCI
The Executive Secretary
Roger Youan
