The South African women’s group has formally written the African Union (AU) and international community to save the life of a Nobel Laureate, Dr Denis Mukwege and her family from alleged threats of retribution and death threats being received from unknown persons.
Mukwege, a Congolese doctor, had won the first Daily Trust African of the Year 2008.
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According to the group, the threat was sequel to the comments made by Mukwege condemning massacre in Kipupu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and for demanding the release of the UN Mapping Report that documented crimes against humanity committed in Eastern Congo.
The letter, dated August 15, 2020, which was directed to the President of the Republic of South Africa and Chairperson of the African Union, Cyril Ramaphosa, was signed by Marietha Dos Santos and Bronwyn Litkie.
The group, under the auspices of ‘South Africa Women Fight Back’ in the letter made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, described the threats as “a violent attempt to attack one individual, forcibly remove him, and inflict lasting damage on the voices.
“These threats against Dr. Mukwege, his family and the healthcare workers at Panzi Hospital are a direct attack upon free speech and the pursuit of a just and fair Africa.
“This is a violent attempt to attack one individual, forcibly remove him, and inflict lasting damage on the voices of those who stand up against Gender Based Violence.
“We call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to actively mobilize the African Union and the international community to take immediate action to increase security and safeguard Dr. Denis Mukwege and the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, DRC”, the letter partly read.
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