Belgian king visits Nobel Prize winner's hospital during DRC trip
Belgium's King Philippe ended his historic tour of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday in the eastern city of Bukavu, as the Congolese army repulsed a rebel attack further north.
The king visited Nobel laureate Denis Mukwege on the outskirts of the city, on the last leg of his six-day visit to the former Belgian colony.
Mukwege, a Congolese gynecologist, won the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war -- which is rampant in eastern DRC.
But the Belgian sovereign's visit came as rebels from the M23 group, some 300 kilometres further north, launched an assault on the strategic town of Bunagana.
The militia was later pushed out of the town, according to military officials.
M23 attacks have sent relations between the DRC and its neighbouring central African state Rwanda into a nosedive.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of backing the group -- an allegation Rwanda has repeatedly denied.
However, on Sunday, Mukwege also accused Rwanda of being behind the M23 and called on Belgium to help the DRC make its case to the international community.
"This royal visit is an exceptional act of courage," the Nobel laureate said. "Visiting us at this time, when Congo is the victim of yet another aggression, is a strong humanitarian act."
