14 January 2013 - The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) helped with special security arrangements put in place on 14 January 2013 to welcome Dr. Denis Mukwege, of Panzi General Reference Hospital, who was returning home after his two and a half months stay in Europe. Dr. Mukwege had been forced into temporary exile following an assassination attempt on him on 25 October 2012.

The Governor of Province, Marcellin Cishambo, was personally present at Kavumu airport to welcome Dr. Mukwenge. Hundreds of other people, including Panzi hospital staff, members of women's associations, representatives of non-governmental organizations, human rights defenders, beneficiaries of Panzi hospital care, and ordinary men, women and children were also present at the airport, located about 35 km from Bukavu.

In his public remarks upon arrival in Bukavu, Dr. Mukwege thanked MONUSCO, ECHO, The Physician Human Rights and other structures for the assistance provided him from the days following the attempt until his departure abroad as well as now upon his return to Bukavu. "No to violence!", "no to war!" and "no to the project aimed at balkanizing the DR Congo" were the slogans that Dr. Mukwege used to drive home the point that only the people decide on who get the power and not the use of arms.

A supporter of non-violence, Dr. Mukwege called for not responding to violence with violence, or to evil with evil. Anxious to resume his work as a gynecologist specializing in damage repair in women victims of sexual violence in this unstable region of the DRC, Dr. Mwenge did not wait until the end of the welcoming ceremony to put on again his doctor's white coat.

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General of the UN in the DRC and head of MONUSCO, Roger Meece, in a press release, said: "the courageous decision of Dr. Mukwege to come back after the attack on his residence on 25 October 2012 shows his unwavering commitment and dedication to the cause of numerous women victims of sexual violence reported every day in this province".