THE STORY OF JUSTINE ASSALÉ: A TRUTH BURIED UNDER POLITICAL INTERESTS

Some truths are so unsettling that they end up buried under the weight of political ambitions. But what is silence worth when it conceals a denied existence? This is the story of Justine Assalé Kouakou, a 15-year-old woman now living in Montreal, whose past is deeply rooted in the dark walls of Abidjan’s Maison d’Arrêt et de Correction (MACA).

Her biological father, Tiémoko Antoine Assalé, now a prominent deputy and mayor of Tiassalé, has never publicly acknowledged her existence. Yet, the facts remain—disturbing and undeniable.

FROM A PRISON CELL TO POLITICAL POWER: A CONTRASTED JOURNEY

In December 2007, Tiémoko Antoine Assalé was arrested for exposing judicial corruption in Côte d’Ivoire. Sentenced to 12 months in prison at MACA, he discovered a world ruled by the law of the strongest. But thanks to his status as an influential journalist, he managed to secure a relatively comfortable stay.

Among the privileges he obtained was regular access to the "infirmary", a euphemism for what was essentially a brothel tolerated by the prison administration. It was there that he met Awa K., a female inmate accused of drug trafficking. What began as a transactional relationship gradually evolved into a bond marked by genuine affection.

A BIRTH IN THE SHADOWS

In June 2010, Awa K. died during childbirth, giving birth to a baby girl: Justine. Her father, still behind bars, arranged for her placement at Adjamé’s orphanage. From that moment on, the child's life was set on a path of uncertainty and abandonment.

A POLITICAL OMERTÀ?

Years passed. Assalé climbed the ranks of power, transitioning from an activist journalist to an influential mayor and then to Parliament. Yet, an entire chapter of his past remained hidden—Justine.

In 2018, during a deep personal identity crisis, Justine attempted to contact him. Her efforts were met with a wall of indifference. “I was told to forget about it, that I was stirring up trouble,” she confides, her voice trembling.

A LONG-AWAITED MEETING, A CRUEL REJECTION

December 2024. Invited to Montreal for the International Forum on Development (FISD), Assalé was just a few streets away from Justine. To her, it was a sign of fate. She braved the bitter Canadian winter, waiting for hours outside his hotel, hoping for a face-to-face encounter.

But the outcome was brutal: her attempts were shut down by the mayor’s security detail.

The NGO "Hope for Africa", which has been supporting Justine since her arrival in Canada, reached out to Assalé. His response was brief: his schedule was too busy. Then, silence.

CAN THE WEIGHT OF THE PAST BE ERASED BY OBLIVION?

We reached out to the Mayor of Tiassalé for an official statement. His office dismissed our investigation as a "destabilization attempt." Yet, the case is already making waves in Ivorian political circles. Some see it as a smear campaign, while others believe it is time for him to take responsibility.

In Africa, power often comes at the cost of personal sacrifice. But Justine Assalé is living proof that some sacrifices are unacceptable. The question remains: will the truth eventually catch up with the man trying to bury it?

How far is a man willing to go to deny his own blood in order to protect his political rise?