Michael Sang Correa, a former member of The Gambia’s infamous “Junglers” death squad, is set to be sentenced on August 22, 2025, in a U.S. federal court following his conviction on charges of torture and conspiracy. The sentencing marks a significant step in holding accountable those involved in human rights abuses under the regime of former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh.
In April 2025, a Denver jury found Correa, 45, guilty on five counts of torture and one count of conspiracy to commit torture. The charges stem from his role in brutal interrogations during a 2006 coup attempt against Jammeh’s government. Testimonies during the trial detailed harrowing acts of violence, including beatings, suffocation with plastic bags, and electric shocks inflicted on victims by Correa and other Junglers, an elite unit tasked with suppressing dissent through terror.
The Junglers operated under Jammeh’s direct orders during his 22-year rule, from 1994 to 2017, a period marked by widespread human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances. The unit targeted political opponents, journalists, and perceived enemies of the state, instilling fear across The Gambia. Jammeh’s regime ended when he fled into exile in Equatorial Guinea after losing the 2016 presidential election.
Correa’s case highlights the international reach of justice for such atrocities. After entering the United States on a diplomatic visa in 2016, Correa settled in Colorado, where he lived quietly until his arrest in 2019 for overstaying his visa. Subsequent investigations uncovered his alleged involvement with the Junglers, leading to charges under U.S. laws that allow prosecution of torture committed abroad. Testimonies from survivors and former Junglers bolstered the case, and evidence was gathered through international human rights investigations.
Correa faces a maximum sentence of 120 years in prison, reflecting the severity of his crimes. His trial is part of broader efforts to address impunity for Jammeh-era abuses, as reported in recommendations of The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, established in 2017 to investigate atrocities and provide justice for victims.
The sentencing is expected to draw attention from human rights advocates and Gambian diaspora communities, who see it as a step toward accountability for a dark chapter in the nation’s history.
