Why aren’t civilians in Eastern DRC being protected?Warning: This podcast includes description of sexual violence.
“I’ve worked in this situation for more than 25 years. And for me it’s not acceptable to stay in the operating room waiting for patients, and treat them, treat their children and treat their grandchildren. This is not acceptable.”
Dr Dennis Mukwege set up the Panzi Clinic in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo in 1999. It was initially set up to help women in childbirth, but it quickly changed its focus to treating women raped and brutalised by the different armed groups fighting in the East of the country. It has since treated more than 83,000 survivors of sexual crimes, and in 2018 Dr Mukwege received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work.
And yet, decades on, he says little has changed and the civilian population is still unprotected from the brutality.
Earlier this year the UN’s Monusco peacekeeping force withdrew from South Kivu – where Dr Mukwege’s clinic is based – under pressure from the Congolese government which accuses it of failing to protect civilians. But its planned withdrawal from North Kivu has been postponed due to fears that the Congolese army is unable to fill the vacuum - leaving civilians even more at risk.
In this interview with Africa Daily, Dr Mukwege says it’s time the global community stepped in to help – because while civilians suffer, “the wealth of Congo is serving all the world”.
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