African Community Raises Safety Concerns Following Lassana Cisse Verdict
In brief
- The African Media Association Malta voiced deep concern over community safety following the acquittal of Lorin Scicluna.
- Scicluna, an ex-soldier, was cleared of charges relating to the 2019 drive-by murder of Ivorian national Lassana Cisse in Birżebbuġa.
- Community representatives asked "Who will protect us?", warning that the verdict leaves Black residents feeling vulnerable and fearful.
Following discussions on a potential review of Malta's jury system, representatives of the African community in Malta have voiced distress over their safety and security in the wake of the Lassana Cisse murder trial verdict.
The African Media Association Malta asked "Who will protect us?" in a formal statement reacting to the acquittal of former soldier Lorin Scicluna. Scicluna had faced charges in connection with the fatal drive-by shooting of 42-year-old Ivorian national Lassana Cisse in Birżebbuġa in April 2019.
Members of the community described feeling unprotected and shaken by the outcome. The association highlighted pervasive anxiety among Black residents, who now feel an increased sense of vulnerability and fear of racial violence in the country.
Lassana Cisse was shot dead while walking home along Triq tal-Ġebel in Birżebbuġa. Two other migrants were also injured in the drive-by attack, which investigators widely regarded as Malta's first racially motivated murder.
The acquittal has sparked broader public debate about racial discrimination, legal accountability, and community protection. Representatives warned that the outcome risks sending a damaging message that crimes against foreign or minority communities can go without accountability.
The African Media Association called on the authorities to take meaningful steps to reassure minority communities and ensure their protection under the law. Community leaders stressed that tangible security guarantees and stronger protections against racial hatred are urgently needed to restore confidence in public institutions.
The Spin Room
Low media divide. Both outlets reported the concerns raised by the African Media Association consistently, focusing on community safety following the verdict.