Nelly MBANGU | From Survival To Governance

Nelly Godelive Mbangu is a lawyer
at the North Kivu Bar in Goma and a
gender expert and conflict mediator
in eastern Democratic Republic of the
Congo.

A committed human rights defender,
she focuses on advancing the rights of
women and girls.
She coordinates the women’s platform
Sauti ya Mama Mukongomani, a network
of 56 national organizations promoting
peace, social cohesion, and women’s rights,
and is co-founder and president of the
Dynamique des Femmes Juristes. Her work
supports mediation, access to justice,
prevention of gender-based violence, and
women’s leadership.

Recognized for her impact, she is an
ambassador of the Mama Muilu Prize and a
laureate of the 2025 Franco-German Prize for
Human Rights