By Alhagie Omar Jallow
A United States federal court, on August 22, 2025, sentenced Michael Sang Correa, a former Gambian soldier, to 810 months in prison for torture committed under the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh.
FactSpace Gambia has followed the case closely and breaks down the trajectory from his arrest to conviction.
Case Overview
- Defendant: Michael Sang Correa, former member of the Junglers, a paramilitary unit under President Jammeh.
- Charges: Convicted on five counts of torture and one count of conspiracy to commit torture.
- Court: Federal court in Denver, Colorado, United States.
- Timeline: Convicted on June 15, 2025. Sentenced on August 22, 2025.
Background
Correa was a member of a notorious Jammeh-era death squad called the “junglers.” He participated in the torture of individuals accused of involvement in a failed 2006 coup against Jammeh. Survivors testified that he carried out beatings, suffocation, and other forms of torture.
Correa obtained a visa and entered the United States in December 2016, the same year Jammeh lost his re-election bid and was forced to leave office. He eventually left for exile to Equatorial Guinea, where he currently lives.
RelatedNews
The ex-Jungler evaded apprehension by American law enforcement officials until 2019, when the US government, through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arrested him and placed him in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020.
This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. national on federal torture charges.
Legal Proceedings
- Prosecutors sought 20 years per count, totalling 120 years.
- Defence requested seven years.
- Judge Christine Arguello imposed 11 years and three months per count consecutively, resulting in a 67 years and six months sentence.
- Correa admitted involvement but claimed he acted under duress. His request for leniency was denied.
Victims and Witnesses
Survivors, including Tamsir Jasseh (a U.S. Navy veteran), Yaya Darboe, Pharing Sanyang, and Demba Dem, testified. Jasseh highlighted that he was not part of the coup but was still detained and tortured.
International Context
- Correa was detained by U.S. immigration authorities in 2019.
- Charges were filed under universal jurisdiction, allowing prosecution of international crimes committed abroad.
- Other Jammeh-era officials have faced justice abroad: Bai Lowe (Germany, life imprisonment, 2023) and Ousman Sonko (Switzerland, 20 years, 2024).
Significance
- This is the first U.S. prosecution of a non U.S. national for torture.
- The case demonstrates that perpetrators of human rights abuses under Jammeh can face accountability internationally.
- It underscores ongoing challenges for domestic justice in The Gambia, where many victims still await trials.
Judge’s Statement
“Justice in this case is not only about a sentence, but restoring faith in the rule of law. Joining the junglers set you on the wrong path. You continued down that path and chose to torture your fellow citizens, which you knew was immoral and criminal.” the trial judge, Cristine M. Arguello said.
NOTE: Alhagie Omar Jallow is a member of FactSpace West Africa’s 2025 volunteers cohort. Jallow is from The Gambia.
