The political movement ADCI has 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, viewing it as a deliberate attempt at political humiliation. ADCI is demanding clear explanations for this restriction, which it deems a violation of fundamental rights and human dignity.

On Monday, May 11, 2026, Assalé Tiémoko Antoine, who leads the political movement Aujourd’hui et Demain la Côte d’Ivoire (ADCI), found himself unable to depart for Canada. He had planned to undertake a political mobilization tour across North America. This incident comes despite earlier assurances: on Thursday, April 23, 2026, Deputy Prosecutor Monsieur Abou Sherif had informed Assalé Tiémoko Antoine that his custody, initiated that same day, had been lifted, restoring his full freedom of movement. Following his discharge from the hospital on Saturday, April 25, 2026, the ADCI President had resumed his activities after a week of recuperation.

Crucially, between April 22, 2026, and the day of the incident, neither Assalé Tiémoko Antoine nor his legal representatives received any official notification of new restrictive measures, such as an indictment or judicial supervision. His planned journey to North America was part of a publicly announced initiative to establish ADCI bases within the Diaspora, a tour that had been detailed during a seminar in Nantes in March 2026 and was widely known among the movement’s structures. The trip was scheduled from May 12 to May 26, 2026, with his return to Abidjan set for May 27.

At Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan, President Assalé Tiémoko Antoine calmly completed all necessary exit formalities without any indication of a travel prohibition. However, approximately 20 minutes before his scheduled boarding, a police officer approached him and requested he accompany him to the airport commissioner’s office.

There, the commissioner informed him that the Public Prosecutor had issued instructions preventing him from traveling and that he needed to notify the prosecutor before any future flight. All attempts 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 free to return to his home.

ADCI’s official stance

The ADCI political movement expresses profound dismay that, since April 22, 2026, the Public Prosecutor failed to notify its president or his lawyers of any restrictive measures against him, only to impose this sudden travel ban. ADCI perceives this incident as a calculated maneuver designed to humiliate its leader. The movement emphasizes that Assalé Tiémoko is a committed republican, deeply respectful of national institutions, and has never harbored any intention of evading justice.

ADCI firmly believes that in a democratic republic, public actions must be conducted with integrity and profound respect for human dignity. Furthermore, ADCI asserts that any restriction on a citizen’s movement, especially an elected national representative, must be communicated clearly and formally. Finally, ADCI urges its members to maintain calm and composure, assuring them that they will be kept informed of all future developments in this matter.

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