The Congolese Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege has been known as a critic of the government and President Joseph Kabila.

At one point he said that "we are governed by people who don't love us", AFP news agency reports.

But following the announcement that he had won the Nobel prize, government spokesperson Lambert Mende told AFP that the "government congratulates Dr Denis Mukwege for the very important work he does, although there are often disagreements between us.

"We have had differences with [him] every time that he tried to politicise his work which however is important from a humanitarian standpoint. But now, we are satisfied with the Nobel Academy's recognition of the work of a compatriot."