The political movement ADCI has voiced strong condemnation regarding the travel restriction 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, perceiving it as a deliberate act of political humiliation. ADCI is demanding immediate explanations for this restriction, which it deems a clear violation of 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), was barred from embarking on his scheduled flight to Canada. This trip was intended to be a political mobilization tour across North America. It’s important to recall that on Thursday, April 23, 2026, Deputy Prosecutor Monsieur Abou Sherif had explicitly informed Assalé Tiémoko Antoine that his custody measure, enacted the same day, was 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 recovery.
Since April 22, 2026, neither Assalé Tiémoko Antoine nor his legal counsel had received any official notification of restrictive measures against him, such as an indictment or judicial supervision. His planned journey to North America was part of a pre-arranged tour to establish ADCI’s presence within the Diaspora. This tour was publicly announced during a seminar in Nantes in March 2026 and was widely known among all branches of the movement. The travel itinerary was set from May 12 to May 26, 2026, with his return to Abidjan slated 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 ban. However, approximately 20 minutes before his flight’s scheduled departure, a police officer approached him, requesting that he accompany him to the airport commissioner’s office.
Upon arrival at the commissioner’s office, he was informed that the Public Prosecutor had issued instructions, stating that he “cannot travel” and must notify the prosecutor before attempting any flight. Despite his persistent efforts, all attempts to contact the prosecutor proved futile. He remained at the police premises until his flight departed at 9:10 PM, after which he was allowed to return to his residence freely.
ADCI’s official position on the travel restriction
The ADCI political movement expresses profound dismay that, since April 22, 2026, the Public Prosecutor had failed to officially notify its president or his lawyers of any restrictive measures, leading to this incident which appears to be a calculated trap designed to humiliate him. ADCI firmly reiterates that Assalé Tiémoko is a committed republican, deeply respectful of the nation’s institutions, and has never harbored any intention of evading justice.
ADCI remains convinced that in a Republic, public action can and must be executed with greater decorum and in full adherence to human dignity. Furthermore, ADCI asserts that when a movement restriction is imposed on a citizen (especially an elected official), that individual must be clearly and formally informed of such a measure. Finally, ADCI urges its members and supporters to maintain calm and serenity, promising to keep them updated on all future developments concerning this matter.
For ADCI,
Roger Youan
Executive Secretary