A legacy of courage: Pascal Kabungulu’s enduring impact 20 years later
July 31 marked the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Pascal Kabungulu, the former executive director of Héritiers de la Justice, a partner of KAIROS then and now. I was not with KAIROS at that time, but through my work with Héritiers de la Justice, which operates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), I have come to understand the critical importance of remembering Pascal and the ongoing call for justice and accountability in his assassination, in the struggle against impunity and for human rights and justice in the DRC today. This blog is based on my conversations and communications with Héritiers de la Justice staff.
On the morning of July 31, 2005, in the quiet city of Bukavu, South Kivu, DRC, tragedy struck. Armed men entered the home of Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi, then Executive Secretary of Héritiers de la Justice, and ended his life in front of his wife and children. He was only 55 years old. Just days after his murder, his wife, Déborah Kitumaini, also came under threat and had to flee the country with her six children. The family eventually resettled as refugees in Canada, where they live today, and now run the Pascal Kabungulu Foundation, supporting families of human rights defenders assassinated in the DRC.
Beyond being an activist and human rights defender, Pascal was a father, a husband, a colleague and a friend. Those who knew him remember his warm smile, his unwavering sense of fairness and his deep belief that justice was not just a legal concept but a way of honouring human dignity. He devoted his life to investigating abuses, exposing truth and amplifying the voices of those silenced by war and exploitation.
A legacy that lives on
Pascal’s work was bold and had impacted many lives. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when speaking out against armed groups and powerful political interests was dangerous, as it is today, he insisted on shining a light on mass crimes and the exploitative “war economies” that stripped civilians of their rights and livelihoods. To him, silence was not an option.
Unfortunately, his courage made him a target. His assassination was meant to silence Héritiers de la Justice and to intimidate an entire community of human rights defenders. Yet two decades later, his name continues to inspire. Young activists in Bukavu and beyond still look to his story as proof that one person’s determination can strengthen an entire movement.
The wound of impunity
Despite this resiliency, justice has never been served. Suspects were arrested but trials were suspended and forgotten. 20 years later, his family still lives with unanswered questions, while those suspected of this crime and many others continue to walk free.
Pascal’s story is not an isolated one. Other human rights defenders such as journalists, Serge Maheshe (2006) and Didace Namujimbo (2008), activist, Floribert Chebeya (2010) and many others have more recently suffered the same fate. Each name is a reminder that defending human rights in the DRC still carries unbearable risks.
Choosing to remember
Héritiers de la Justice, refuses to let Pascal’s memory fade. Its members told me: “To us, he is not just a victim. He is a symbol of what it means to stand up for justice, even when the cost is high.”
This is why, on this 20th anniversary, they are renewing a call to rename a public square near his home “Place des Défenseurs des Droits Humains et des Journalistes”, as a permanent tribute to Pascal Kabungulu in Bukavu. In the words of Héritiers de la Justice: “Such a memorial would honour Pascal and all who have paid with their lives for speaking the truth.”
Why it matters today
Héritiers de la Justice spoke about the importance of Pascal’s memory today.
“Remembering Pascal is not just about looking back. It’s about moving forward, fighting for the future we want in DRC. We must create a nation where human rights’ defenders are not silenced but one where their voices and work are protected and celebrated.”
Pascal’s story reminds us that under every circumstance, justice delayed is justice denied. But Pascal’s courage also reminds us that change is possible and inspires us to demand accountability and to protect those who defend the rights of all people.
Twenty years have passed since Pascal’s assassination but his legacy remains alive in the hearts of his family, colleagues and the countless young defenders who continue his fight. In the words of his friends and colleagues at Héritiers de la Justice: “To honour him is to see him, celebrate him and keep demanding what he believed in: truth, justice and dignity for all.”
By Danielle Kamtié, Africa Partnerships and Global Climate Justice Program Coordinator
