The Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations (Victims’ Center), in a press release, stated that the ongoing trial involving Michel Sang Correa is a glimmer of hope for victims, a dispatch issued on Tuesday, April 8 said.
This is the third court trial anchored on the Universal Jurisdiction following the imprisonment of Jungler Baye Lowe and Former Interior Minister Ousman Sonko in Germany and Switzerland, respectively.
The full statement reads as follows:
Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations (Victims’ Center) wishes to express its appreciation of the ongoing trial of Michael Sang Correa, who was a member of the notorious death squad known as the “Junglers” during the dictatorial regime of Yahya Jammeh between 22nd July 1994 –17 January 2017.
The trial by the United States Government kicked off on the 7th of April, 2025, at the Alfred A Arraj Courthouse in Denver, Colorado, and is expected to last until 18th April, 2025. Michael Sang Correa has been charged with torture and conspiracy to commit torture, which is an international crime no matter where they have been committed.
The VC appreciates and commends the efforts of the United States Government for supporting and facilitating the participation of the victims from The Gambia serving as witnesses in the trial. This trial is a glimmer of hope for our victims because this is the third court trial with Universal Jurisdiction following the imprisonment of Jungler Baye Lowe and Former Interior Minister Ousman Sonko in Germany and Switzerland, respectively. This is commendable and we urge the victim’s community to not lose hope but to hold on to the glimmer of hope these trials are bringing.
We also would like to recognize the tireless efforts of our sister victim-led organizations and journalists both within and outside The Gambia for the work they’re doing in sensitizing and keeping the victims’ community informed and equipped with relevant information during this trial.
Finally, this trial is yet another reminder to the government of the Gambia that the time to give victims justice is now. In this regard, we urge the government of the Gambia through the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to complement the efforts of the international community in bringing the perpetrators of human rights violations under the Jammeh regime to justice by speeding up the process of establishing a Special Prosecutor’s Office, the Hybrid Tribunal and the timely provision of reparations and memorialisation for victims.”
