Ivorian political leader Assalé Tiémoko’s travel ban sparks outrage from ADCI

The political movement ADCI is vehemently condemning the travel prohibition imposed on its president, Assalé Tiémoko Antoine, who was blocked from boarding a flight to Canada on May 11, 2026. In an official statement, the party expressed its astonishment at this measure, which was never formally communicated, viewing it as a deliberate attempt at political humiliation and demanding immediate clarification regarding this restriction on a citizen’s fundamental rights and dignity.

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 hindrance to his planned departure for Canada. He was set to embark on a vital political mobilization tour across North America. This incident follows a previous event on Thursday, April 23, 2026, when Assistant Prosecutor Abou Sherif had explicitly informed Assalé Tiémoko Antoine that his custody measure was lifted, restoring his full freedom of movement. After being discharged from the hospital on Saturday, April 25, 2026, the ADCI President had resumed his activities following a week of recuperation.

Crucially, between April 22, 2026, and the present day, neither Assalé Tiémoko nor his legal counsel received any official notification of a restrictive measure against him. There had been no indictment or judicial oversight imposed. His intended journey to North America was part of a pre-arranged tour to establish ADCI’s presence among the Ivorian diaspora. This tour had been publicly announced during a seminar in Nantes in March 2026 and was known to all internal structures of the movement. The trip was scheduled to run from May 12 to May 26, 2026, with his return to Abidjan slated for May 27.

Upon his arrival at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan, President Assalé Tiémoko Antoine proceeded calmly through all the necessary exit formalities. At no point during this process was he informed of any existing travel ban. However, approximately 20 minutes before his scheduled boarding, a police officer approached him and requested that he accompany him to the airport commissioner’s office.

Once at the commissioner’s office, Assalé Tiémoko was informed that the Public Prosecutor had issued instructions preventing him from traveling and that he was required to notify the prosecutor before any future travel. All his attempts to reach the Public Prosecutor at that moment proved futile. He remained in the police premises until his flight departed at 9:10 PM, after which he was permitted to return to his home without further detention.

ADCI’s official stance

The ADCI political movement expresses profound concern that, since April 22, 2026, the Public Prosecutor has failed to notify its president or his legal team of any restrictions on his movement. This latest incident, therefore, creates the impression of a deliberate trap designed to humiliate him. ADCI wishes to underscore that Assalé Tiémoko is a committed republican, deeply respectful of the nation’s institutions, and has never harbored any intention of evading justice.

ADCI firmly believes that within a Republic, public actions must be executed with decorum and with the utmost respect for human dignity. The movement further asserts that when a restriction on movement is imposed on any citizen, particularly an elected representative, that individual must be clearly and formally informed of such a measure. Finally, ADCI urges its members to maintain calm and composure, assuring them that they will be kept apprised of all future developments in this matter.

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