The groundbreaking trial of Michael Sang Correa, a Gambian national accused of torture during the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh, opened today in a U.S. federal court, marking a historic first under the principle of universal jurisdiction. For the first time, a non-U.S. citizen is facing trial in an American courtroom for torture committed abroad, spotlighting the nation’s growing role in prosecuting international crimes.
Jury selection kicked off the proceedings, with 12 jurors to be chosen from a pool of 70 potential candidates drawn randomly from driver’s license registrations across the District of Colorado. Following standard U.S. legal protocol, the selection process is expected to conclude today, paving the way for the trial to move into full swing.
Correa, allegedly a former member of Gambia’s feared “Junglers” death squad, faces charges of torture and conspiracy to commit torture for acts committed in 2006 against suspected coup plotters under Jammeh’s brutal 22-year rule. Arrested in the U.S. in 2019 after fleeing Gambia in 2016, Correa’s case tests the reach of universal jurisdiction, which allows prosecution of serious international crimes regardless of where they occurred or the nationality of the accused or victims.
As the courtroom buzzes with anticipation, the final jury lineup—set to be finalized by day’s end—will determine the panel tasked with delivering justice in this unprecedented case. Legal experts and human rights advocates alike are watching closely, viewing the trial as a potential milestone in the global fight against impunity for atrocity crimes.
