A Gambian man linked to former dictator Yahya Jammeh’s notorious hit squad has been sentenced to more than 67 years in a U.S. prison for torture. Michael Sang Correa, 46, was handed 810 months in prison by Senior Judge Christine Arguello in Colorado after his conviction on one count of conspiracy to commit torture and five counts of torture.
Why was Michael Sang Correa convicted?
In April, a Colorado jury found Correa guilty of participating in the torture of several victims in Gambia in 2006. According to the U.S. Justice Department, victims were beaten and burned after being accused of involvement in a failed coup attempt against Jammeh. The testimonies highlighted the extent of the brutality carried out by Correa and others within Jammeh’s security apparatus.
Who were the Junglers under Yahya Jammeh?
Correa was a member of “the Junglers,” a secretive unit within the Gambian army that answered directly to Jammeh. Rights groups and survivors say the group became increasingly violent after the 2006 coup attempt, targeting political opponents and suspected dissidents. Many victims were reportedly taken to the National Intelligence Agency near Banjul, where they were subjected to electric shocks, severe beatings, and acid burns.
Why is this case historic?
This sentencing marks the first U.S. criminal prosecution of a member of the Junglers. Correa was arrested in 2020 under a U.S. law that allows prosecution of torture committed abroad if the suspect is found on American soil. Rights advocates say the ruling is a breakthrough for accountability in Gambia, where Jammeh ruled with an iron fist from 1994 until his 2016 election defeat.
Although Jammeh has repeatedly denied torture during his regime, Correa’s conviction and sentencing provide a landmark moment for survivors who have long called for justice. For many, the case signals that perpetrators of atrocities, no matter where they are, can still be held to account.
By Risper Akinyi