Former Jammeh Death Squad Member to Stand Trial in US for Torture Charges
Denver, Colorado – Michael Sang Correa, a former member of ousted Gambian President Yahya Jammeh’s death squad, will face trial in a U.S. federal court on September 16, 2024. The defendant is charged with torture and conspiracy to commit torture during his time in Gambia’s security forces.
Background of the Case
Correa, who also served as a Gambia National Army officer, was arrested in June 2020 on federal charges related to the torture of political prisoners in Gambia. He has remained in custody in Colorado since his arrest.
Unprecedented Legal Action
A federal grand jury previously indicted Correa on one count of conspiracy to commit torture and six counts of aiding and abetting torture. Notably, the statute enabling U.S. prosecution of foreign nationals for crimes committed abroad has only been invoked twice before in American legal history.
How Correa Came to the US
The defendant originally traveled to the United States in December 2016 as part of a security detail for Gambia’s then-vice president during a UN visit. Following Jammeh’s electoral defeat that same month, Correa chose to remain in the U.S.
International Context
This trial follows recent convictions of other Jammeh-era officials, including former Interior Minister Ousman Sonko in Switzerland and Bai Lowe in Germany, marking a growing international effort to hold former Gambian officials accountable for human rights violations.