Michael Sang Correa, an alleged former member of a Gambian death squad known as “The Junglers,” will stand trial in a United States federal court in Denver on Monday (16 September 16) on charges of torture and conspiracy to commit torture.

Correa, a former state guard soldier and member of Jammeh’s notorious Jungler group, faces seven torture-related counts for alleged crimes committed in the Gambia. 

He is accused of being part of an armed unit under Jammeh’s control that tortured multiple coup suspects.

He was arrested in Denver, Colorado four years ago after relocating to the US. 

Last December, Correa lodged an appeal against his 2020 indictment by a federal grand jury in Colorado. 

However, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Christine M. Arguello dismissed Correa’s appeal earlier this year.

Ahead of the trial, Human Rights Watch released a question-and-answer document about the case and its broader legal implications.

The trial, for alleged crimes committed in Gambia by a Gambian national, is possible because US law contains provisions permitting “universal jurisdiction.”

Universal jurisdiction allows for the prosecution under certain circumstances of serious crimes under international law no matter where they were committed, and regardless of the nationality of the suspects or victims, according to Human Rights Watch. 

This trial, only the third of its kind in the United States, reflects a global trend for victims of the most heinous crimes – including those committed during Yahya Jammeh’s – to access justice globally. 

“The first trial in the United States of serious crimes committed in Gambia offers hope for victims of Jammeh-era crimes awaiting justice,” said Michelle Reyes Milk, senior international justice counsel at Human Rights Watch. 

“US lawmakers should address the gaps in federal law so that US courts can play a larger role as part of global efforts to bring justice for atrocity crimes.”

The question-and-answer document provides background and implications of the Correa case, including:

• information on the accused;

• description of the crimes charged;

• explanation of universal jurisdiction laws in the United States and universal jurisdiction trends globally;

• gaps and limitations in US law that should be addressed;

• fair trial rights of the accused; and 

• significance of the case for victims and international justice, and for other victims of the Jammeh-era in Gambia.

For the Questions-and-Answers document on the Correa trial, please visit here and here.