Luc Nkulula

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]