The Tuesday conviction of Michael Sang Correa, a former member of the notorious “Junglers” paramilitary unit, in a U.S. federal court in Denver, Colorado, marks a historic moment in the global pursuit of justice for the atrocities committed during Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year dictatorship in The Gambia.
Found guilty on all six counts of torture and conspiracy to commit torture, Correa’s conviction is not only a triumph for the survivors who bravely testified but also a powerful signal that the long arm of justice can reach perpetrators, no matter where they seek refuge. For The Gambia, this landmark verdict carries profound implications for accountability, healing, and the nation’s ongoing journey toward reckoning with its painful past.
The trial, conducted under the U.S. Torture Act and the principle of universal jurisdiction, is a testament to the growing international commitment to holding human rights abusers accountable. Correa, implicated in the brutal torture of suspected coup plotters in 2006, was among those who operated under Jammeh’s direct orders, inflicting unimaginable suffering on victims through beatings, electrocution, and other horrific methods. The courage of survivors who traveled from The Gambia and beyond to testify, reliving their trauma to ensure justice, underscores the resilience of those who endured Jammeh’s reign of terror. Their testimonies, coupled with the meticulous work of organizations like the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) and TRIAL International, have ensured that the truth of these atrocities is no longer silenced.
For The Gambia, the Correa verdict is a clarion call to accelerate domestic efforts toward accountability. The Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC), which concluded in 2021, meticulously documented the widespread human rights violations under Jammeh, recommending prosecutions for those responsible. Yet, progress on implementing these recommendations has been frustratingly slow. While the Gambian government has taken steps, such as passing bills in 2024 to establish a Special Prosecutor’s Office and a Special Accountability Mechanism, the delay in operationalizing these institutions risks undermining public trust. The recent approval by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for a hybrid tribunal to prosecute Jammeh-era crimes is a promising development, but it must be swiftly implemented to deliver justice that victims have waited too long to see.
The Correa case also highlights the critical role of universal jurisdiction in filling the gap where domestic systems falter. The Gambia is not alone in this struggle; countries like Germany and Switzerland have similarly prosecuted Jammeh associates, with Bai Lowe sentenced to life in Germany in 2023 and former Interior Minister Ousman Sonko convicted in Switzerland in 2024. These international trials serve as both a model and a challenge for The Gambia to strengthen its judicial mechanisms. They demonstrate that borders do not confine justice and that perpetrators cannot evade accountability by fleeing abroad.
However, the implications of this verdict extend beyond legal accountability. For survivors, acknowledging their suffering through Correa’s conviction is vital to healing. The TRRC emphasized the importance of truth-telling for national reconciliation, and trials like this amplify those truths globally, fostering a collective understanding of the past. Yet, healing cannot be complete without reparations and systemic reforms to prevent future abuses. The Gambian government must prioritize these alongside prosecutions to ensure a holistic approach to transitional justice.
The Correa verdict also sends a stark warning to those who commit or enable human rights violations: there is no haven. Sirra Ndow, chairperson of the Alliance of Victim-Led Organisations in The Gambia, aptly stated, “This conviction sends a clear message that perpetrators of human rights violations cannot escape accountability, regardless of where they commit their crimes.” For Yahya Jammeh, who remains in exile in Equatorial Guinea, and his associates, this verdict is a reminder that the pursuit of justice is relentless.
As The Gambia stands at a crossroads, the government must seize this moment to demonstrate unwavering commitment to justice. The international community, which has played a pivotal role in cases like Correa’s, should continue to support The Gambia through technical assistance, funding, and diplomatic pressure to ensure the hybrid tribunal becomes a reality. Civil society, including victim-led organizations, must maintain their advocacy to keep the momentum alive.
