Luc Nkulula | |
---|---|
Born | October 18, 1985 |
Died | June 10, 2018 |
Occupation(s) | Lawyer, political activist |
Luc Nkulula (October 18, 1985 - June 10, 2018) was a Congolese political activist and leader of the pro-democracy movement lutte pour le changement (LUCHA).
Nkulula was born in Lubumbashi, a city in southern Congo, and grew up between there and Goma in the east of the country. He obtained a law degree from the University of Goma, after which he worked as a consultant for various international organizations. [1]
Nkulula joined LUCHA, a Congolese pro-democracy movement, upon its creation in 2012 and became one of its leading members. [2] He represented the movement at a meeting with President Joseph Kabila in 2016, where he criticized the president for his lack of action for the violence-plagued east of the country [2] and urged him to relinquish power peacefully. Nkulula's activism involved encouraging young people in his country to be involved in public affairs. [1] From his leading role in a campaign to improve access to safe drinking water in Goma, he was often known by the nickname "H2O". [2]
Nkulula died on the night of June 9–10, 2018 as his house burnt down. [3] The death was deemed "suspicious" by other LUCHA members, [4] even though "an investigation blamed a faulty solar panel". [5] He was eulogized by The Economist as "one of Congo’s bravest campaigners for democracy and free elections." [2]
Luc Nkulula | |
---|---|
Born | October 18, 1985 |
Died | June 10, 2018 |
Occupation(s) | Lawyer, political activist |
Luc Nkulula (October 18, 1985 - June 10, 2018) was a Congolese political activist and leader of the pro-democracy movement lutte pour le changement (LUCHA).
Nkulula was born in Lubumbashi, a city in southern Congo, and grew up between there and Goma in the east of the country. He obtained a law degree from the University of Goma, after which he worked as a consultant for various international organizations. [1]
Nkulula joined LUCHA, a Congolese pro-democracy movement, upon its creation in 2012 and became one of its leading members. [2] He represented the movement at a meeting with President Joseph Kabila in 2016, where he criticized the president for his lack of action for the violence-plagued east of the country [2] and urged him to relinquish power peacefully. Nkulula's activism involved encouraging young people in his country to be involved in public affairs. [1] From his leading role in a campaign to improve access to safe drinking water in Goma, he was often known by the nickname "H2O". [2]
Nkulula died on the night of June 9–10, 2018 as his house burnt down. [3] The death was deemed "suspicious" by other LUCHA members, [4] even though "an investigation blamed a faulty solar panel". [5] He was eulogized by The Economist as "one of Congo’s bravest campaigners for democracy and free elections." [2]