He announced his candidacy at a meeting in the capital Kinshasa on Monday. His goal is to make the country safer and put an end to inadequate leadership.
“I agree to be your candidate for president of the republic,” said the 68-year-old.
He is challenging incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi in the election on December 20, when parliamentary elections are also held.
In 1999, Mukwege founded the Panzi Hospital where victims of sexual violence in the war-torn country can receive care. For his work against sexual violence in conflicts, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018. He shared the award with Yazidi human rights activist Nadia Murad.