Horrific Ambush on DR Congo Doctor: Dr. Denis Mukwege

Dr. Mukwege is a tireless advocate for the rights of women in DRC.

Dr. Denis Mukwege

(WASHINGTON DC) - Denis Mukwege Mukengere is the founder and medical director of Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was attacked in his home tonight at gunpoint.

Exactly one month ago he was addressing the United Nations about the crisis that he faces every day in the Congo with the women who are victims of sexual violence. He said in part:

“Alas! Women victims of Sexual Violence in Eastern DR Congo are in disgrace. I constantly before my eyes the eyes of the old women, daughters, mothers and babies even disgraced. Today, many are subjected to sexual slavery; others are used as a weapon of war. Their bodies are exposed to the most vile abuse. And it lasts for 16 years! 16 years of wandering; 16 years of torture, mutilation 16 years, 16 years of destruction of the woman, the only Congolese vital resource; 16 years of destroying an entire society.”

Yet tonight, October 25, 2012 as Dr. Denis Mukwege was returning from a trip to Europe he was greeting in the most horrific and unexpected way in his own home:

Press Release on Dr. Mukwege’s attack in his home

On the evening of 25 October 2012 around 19:00, four armed men, not in uniform, entered Dr. Denis Mukwege’s house in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The armed men forced Dr. Mukwege’s two daughters and their friend at gunpoint to sit silently on the floor until he returned home. On his arrival, roughly half an hour later, one of the armed men opened the gate and forced Dr. Mukwege out of the vehicle and demanded he hand over his keys. The security guard on duty ran out shouting to intervene and was shot and killed. The armed men fired the remaining bullets at Dr. Mukwege, who threw himself on the ground narrowly avoiding the gunfire. The men then fled in Dr. Mukwege’s vehicle, which they quickly abandoned before hijacking another vehicle. The identity of the armed men and their current location is unknown.

Dr. Denis Mukwege is the founder and medical director of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, DRC. The hospital has become known worldwide for the treatment of survivors of sexual violence and women in need of specialised gynaecological care. Dr. Mukwege has been the recipient of numerous international awards including the UN Human Rights Prize, African of the Year, the Olof Palme Prize and the Clinton Global Citizen Award. He has been nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize. These awards recognize his extraordinary service, humanity and commitment.

Dr. Mukwege is a tireless advocate for the rights of women in DRC. He has addressed the United Nations General Assembly on the matter, most recently in September, and he regularly travels abroad raising awareness of the situation in Eastern DRC. In addition to his responsibilities managing and administering Panzi Hospital and Panzi Foundation, Dr. Mukwege continues to see patients and perform surgery.

Contact person:

Maria Bard, Advocacy Officer, PMU +46 8 608 96 35 PMU has been working in DR Congo since the 1920s and supported the establishment of Panzi Hospital. Currently, PMU is working in partnership with Dr. Mukwege to support survivors of sexual violence and women in need of specialised gynaecological care.

Jennifer Fierberg is a social worker in the US working on peace and justice issues in Africa with an emphasis on the crisis in Rwanda and throughout the central region of Africa. Her articles have been published on many humanitarian sites that are also focused on changing the world through social, political and personal action.

Jennifer has extensive background working with victims of trauma and domestic violence, justice matters as well as individual and family therapy. Passionate and focused on bringing the many humanitarian issues that plague the African Continent to the awareness of the developed world in order to incite change. She is a correspondent, Assistant Editor, and Volunteer Coordinator for NGO News Africa through the volunteer project of the UN. Jennifer was also the media co-coordinator and senior funding executive for The Africa Global Village. You can write to Jennifer at jfierberg@ymail.com. Jennifer comes to www.Salem-News.com with a great deal of experience and passion for working to stop human right violation in Africa.

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