A campaign has been initiated in Malta to prevent the deportation of a Gambian DJ. The individual, known as DJ Dollarino, is facing a request to accept a voluntary return to The Gambia, prompting widespread concern and calls for intervention.
DJ's Longstanding Ties
Yusupha Dibassey, known professionally as DJ Dollarino, has resided in Malta for 18 years, having first arrived on the island in 2008 at the age of 23. Over nearly two decades, Dibassey established deep community ties, particularly within the vibrant music scene and the local communities of Msida and Gżira. These connections have been noted by supporters as central to his life on the island.
During his extensive stay, Dibassey’s documentation was renewed approximately every three months, a regular process that allowed him to maintain his legal status. The Dance Beyond Borders Foundation estimates that this renewal process occurred around 70 times over his 18 years in Malta. The foundation emphasized that the State consistently permitted him to remain and work throughout this period, which enabled him to establish significant and tangible roots on the island, integrating deeply into Maltese society.
Detention and Legal Basis
Yusupha Dibassey was detained on August 10 after reporting to authorities to renew his documents, a routine procedure he had undertaken dozens of times before. His detention has sparked immediate action from advocates. The Dance Beyond Borders Foundation is actively calling for Dibassey’s removal from Malta to be halted while his specific circumstances and all remaining legal remedies are thoroughly considered.
The organisation stated that Dibassey had held a Yellow Book, which is issued to rejected asylum seekers. Despite this status, he has so far declined the option of a voluntary return to The Gambia, seeking instead to remain in Malta where he has built his life. In its advocacy, the Dance Beyond Borders Foundation invoked Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to respect for private and family life, as a fundamental basis for his continued stay in Malta given his extensive ties and long residency.
Community Support and Concerns
The appeal to halt Dibassey’s deportation has drew significant support from various sectors of Maltese society. Former president Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has publicly endorsed the appeal, lending considerable weight to the campaign. Numerous non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and prominent individuals from Malta’s cultural sector have also joined the chorus of voices advocating for Dibassey.
The Dance Beyond Borders Foundation, a key organisation in this campaign, has known Yusupha Dibassey for six years through its involvement with Refugee Week Malta. The foundation detailed his consistent and active participation, noting that he has performed as a DJ at Refugee Week Malta every year, contributing significantly to its cultural programming. Dibassey has served on the advisory group for Refugee Week Malta for the past two years, demonstrating his commitment and leadership within the refugee and cultural communities.
The foundation noted that Dibassey's current situation bears a striking resemblance to the case of Kusi Dismark, an Ethiopian barber who faced a similar fate. Dismark was deported from Malta in 2024 after residing there for 13 years, having also established a life and business on the island. His deportation followed an arrest at his Ħamrun barber shop, after which he was detained and subsequently sent back to Ethiopia, a case that raised considerable concern among human rights advocates and the public. The parallels between the two cases show the urgency and concern surrounding DJ Dollarino's potential deportation.