Michael Sang Correa, a former member of the notorious “Junglers” hit-squad under ex-Gambian president Yahya Jammeh, is set to stand trial in the United States starting 7 April.
The 45-year-old faces six counts of torture and one count of conspiracy to commit torture, marking a historic moment as the first non-U.S. citizen to be tried under the U.S. Extraterritorial Torture Act. This law allows for the prosecution of individuals for crimes committed abroad, specifically for acts of torture.
Correa’s charges stem from his alleged involvement in the brutal treatment of prisoners following a foiled coup attempt in 2006. Torture methods included beatings, electric shocks, and suffocation with plastic bags. The victims were largely civilians and military figures accused of plotting against Jammeh. The trial is a critical part of efforts to hold individuals accountable for the human rights abuses during Jammeh’s 22-year iron fist reign, which included extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and other atrocities.
Although Correa fled The Gambia after Jammeh’s exile in 2017, he was arrested in 2019 in the U.S. for visa violations. His trial comes at a pivotal time for Gambia, as the government has been criticized for its slow pace in pursuing justice for Jammeh-era crimes. International human rights groups have pushed for accountability, highlighting Correa’s trial as an important step in bringing justice to victims of Jammeh’s brutal regime.