Parliament president Martin Schulz announced the award for Mukwege, who has previously been tipped several times for the Nobel Peace Prize, for his work in treating the appalling injuries inflicted on the victims. Rival forces fighting for control of the vast mineral riches in eastern DR Congo have used mass rape for decades to terrorise the local population into submission. Schulz also named the pro-Western Ukraine democracy and rights group EuroMaidan as runner-up.
Mukwege, 59, trained as a gynaecologist, going on to found the General Referral Hospital of Panzi near Bukavu in South Kivu province which has seen some of the worst violence.
Mukwege survived an assassination attempt two years ago after speaking out about the continued use of rape in the conflict and accused the world of failing to act.
Last year, however, he defied threats and returned home to a warm welcome from thousands of people to say "no to sexual violence, no to war, and no to the Balkanisation of the DRC".
The Sakharov Prize, named after the famous Russian scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, recognises significant contributions to the promotion of human rights and democracy around the world.
Other past recipients of the 50,000 euro ($68,000) prize include South African anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela and former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.
(AFP)
Coming a bit late but its good work, good news out of Africa, so why not!
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