Luis Óscar Úsuga Restrepo

The JEP named Luis Óscar Úsuga Restrepo among twenty former FARC leaders called to answer for the recruitment and use of children during the armed conflict. The decision examines regional command responsibility and significant involvement in recruitment, including of children under fifteen. It is not a final conviction.

State of the evidence

The JEP announcement explicitly lists this individual among the twenty charged.

Legal status — source text

Case 07 charges, with acknowledgement and final judgment to follow.

Attribution

Alleged regional command responsibility for recruiting and using minors.

In a Case 07 decision, the JEP named Luis Óscar Úsuga Restrepo among nine former leaders potentially responsible for patterns of ill-treatment, torture and executions of recruited children. The judges are assessing regional commanders’ actions, omissions and tolerance, rather than automatically assigning them every subordinate’s act. The individual may accept or contest the charges before judgment.

State of the evidence

The JEP names the individual among nine, and La Silla Vacía reports on the decision.

Legal status — source text

Specific charges concerning mistreatment and executions of recruited children; no final conviction found.

Attribution

Alleged leadership responsibility or omission in abuses committed against recruited minors.

A second Case 07 decision named Luis Óscar Úsuga Restrepo among five former leaders linked to a pattern of reproductive violence against recruited girls. The investigation documents forced contraception, forced abortions and other coercive practices within the organisation; it does not mean this leader personally carried out every act. This is a separate charge from the mistreatment decision.

State of the evidence

The official statement expressly lists five individuals and independent reporting corroborates the types of alleged abuses.

Legal status — source text

Separate reproductive violence charges; transitional proceedings remain open and no final judgment was found.

Attribution

Alleged role in establishing or tolerating reproductive coercion within the units under command.

Luis Óscar Úsuga Restrepo attended JEP hearings concerning the Northwestern Bloc and acknowledged responsibility relating to wartime hostage-taking. The official 26 June statement identifies the former leaders who attended and describes the victim-centred hearings. Acknowledgement of responsibility is not the same as the issuance of a final sentence.

State of the evidence

The JEP and La Silla Vacía describe the hearing.

Legal status — source text

Public acknowledgement in JEP Case 01; the final sentencing stage has not been established by the reviewed sources.

Attribution

Acknowledged earlier responsibility relating to Northwestern Bloc hostage-taking.

The JEP charged Luis Óscar Úsuga Restrepo and six other former Northwestern Bloc leaders in the regional case concerning abductions in Antioquia and nearby departments. Allegations included hostage-taking, deprivation of liberty and abuse of captives. The decision was a procedural charge, not a final conviction.

State of the evidence

The JEP release and a report by El País (Cali) document the proceedings.

Legal status — source text

Charges were issued in September 2024 and responsibility was acknowledged in June 2025; no final verdict was found.

Attribution

Alleged responsibility in the Northwestern Bloc’s regional hostage-taking policy.