Africa-Press – Gambia. The Gambian government has welcomed the conclusion of the sentencing hearing for Michael Sang Correa, a former operative of the notorious Gambian death squad known as the Junglers.
This followed Correa’s sentencing to 135 months on each count, to run consecutively, totalling 810 months or 67.5 years. He was convicted in the United States and the hearing was held at the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, Denver.
Correa was convicted on 15 April 2025 on multiple counts, including five counts of torture and one count of conspiracy to commit torture. The crimes were linked to the alleged torture of individuals accused of participating in the 2006 attempted coup against former President Yahya Jammeh.
Presided over by Judge Christine M. Arguello, the sentencing hearing featured detailed presentations from both prosecution and defence teams. Victims of the human rights abuses delivered victim impact statements, describing the ongoing physical and psychological trauma they continue to endure.
After reviewing the evidence and victim testimonies, Judge Arguello sentenced Correa accordingly. The court emphasized that Correa’s actions represented serious violations of international human rights law and warranted a stringent sentence.
The ruling has been hailed as a milestone in the pursuit of international justice, sending a clear message that perpetrators of gross human rights violations will be held accountable, regardless of borders or the passage of time.
In a statement issued out after the verdict, the Gambian Ministry of Justice reaffirmed the government’s commitment to its transitional justice program, which aims to ensure accountability, support victim redress, and strengthen the rule of law in The Gambia. The Ministry also expressed gratitude to the U.S. Government and other partners who supported the judicial process.
“This landmark judgment reflects the severity of the crimes committed and the resilience of the victims who continue to seek justice and healing,” the Ministry said.
The case underscores The Gambia’s ongoing efforts to address past human rights abuses and consolidate justice for victims of the former regime.
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