The accused, 33-year-old Mouhamadou Dosso, who also holds an Italian ID card, was arrested in November 2024. He pleaded guilty to distributing extremist propaganda and seeking to persuade others to carry out militant attacks.
According to testimony by Police Inspector Mohammed Shurrab, Dosso used multiple mobile phones to contact potential recruits, focusing particularly on vulnerable asylum seekers living alone after fleeing conflict zones.
One of his messages reportedly read: “We are recruiting volunteers to the jihad. If you die in this fight, you will go to heaven.” Investigators also found photos and materials linked to the Islamic State group on his devices.
It remains unclear whether Dosso had direct links to Islamic State or whether he succeeded in recruiting anyone.
The case marks one of Malta’s most serious terrorism-related prosecutions in recent years, highlighting the continued challenges European authorities face in curbing extremist recruitment networks.