Ivorian political leader Assalé Tiémoko blocked from leaving the country, ADCI condemns “humiliation”

The political movement ADCI has vocally criticized the travel prohibition imposed on its president, Assalé Tiémoko Antoine. He 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, interpreting it as a deliberate act of political humiliation and demanding clear explanations regarding this restriction, which they deem 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), faced an unexpected travel ban while preparing for a political mobilization tour in North America. This incident follows an earlier development on Thursday, April 23, 2026, when Deputy Prosecutor Abou Sherif had informed Mr. Tiémoko Antoine that his custody measure, enacted the same day, was lifted, thereby restoring his complete 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.

Remarkably, from April 22, 2026, until the day of the incident, neither Assalé Tiémoko nor his legal counsel received any official communication about restrictive measures against him, such as an indictment or judicial oversight. His planned 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 widely known within the movement’s various structures. The travel itinerary was set from May 12 to May 26, 2026, with his return to Abidjan scheduled for May 27.

Upon arrival at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan, President Assalé Tiémoko Antoine proceeded calmly through all departure formalities without any indication of a travel ban. 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 relayed that the Public Prosecutor had issued an instruction stating he “cannot travel” and must inform the prosecutor before any future flights. All his attempts to contact the prosecutor proved futile. He remained at the police premises until his plane departed at 9:10 PM, after which he was allowed to return to his home freely.

The position of ADCI

The ADCI political movement expressed its profound surprise that, since April 22, 2026, the Public Prosecutor had failed to notify its president or his legal representatives of any restrictive measures against him, leading to this incident which appears to be a deliberate attempt to humiliate him. ADCI asserts 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 in any Republic, public action should always be exercised with grace and in full observance of human dignity. The movement further contends that when a restriction on movement is imposed on a citizen (especially an elected national official), that individual must be clearly and formally informed. Finally, ADCI urges its members to maintain calm and composure, promising to keep them updated on all future developments concerning this matter.

For ADCI
The Executive Secretary
Roger Youan