Italian Ambassador to DR Congo killed in United Nations convoy Attack
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Rebels in the East of DR Congo has attacked the convoy of UN. Luca Attanasio age 43, Italy’s Ambassador to the DR Congo was one of the victims who later in the hospital. The incident happened on 22 February 2021. The convoy reportly belonged to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
The Foreign Ministry of DR Congo had earlier confirmed the death of the Ambassador “It is with deep Sadness that the foreign Ministry confirms the death, today in Goma, of the Italian ambassador,”
Amongst the victims of the attack also include, the driver and the Italian police officer (ambassador’s body guard) who were declared death (BBC NEWS). It is worthy to note that other victims were seriously injured.
It is reported that the attack was first an attempt to kidnapped the passengers on board according to BBC report. “ambushed by a group of six attackers, who fired warning shots before taking all passengers into the Virunga National Park… the governor of North Kivu province, Carly Nzanzu told BBC”
According the BBC News, the Virunga National Park rangers helped freed four persons though the assailants managed to killed three persons. “That’s when a patrol of Virunga National Park rangers intervened and managed to free four….Unfortunately, before they ran away, the assailants shot the ambassador and his bodyguard, and they killed the Congolese driver at the start of the attack,” BBC added the statement from the governor of North Kivu province, carly Nzanzu
As many armed groups operate in the area, the perpetrators of the act remained unknown as no group has claim responsibility for the act at the time of this report.
The DR Congo government in a communique has blame the attack on terrorists and promise to bring perpetrators to justice. Below is communique in. French language
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
