Crime & Justice

Italian ambassador to Kinshasa killed following attack on UN convoy

Rome, Feb 22 (efe-epa).- Italy’s ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo was killed Monday following an armed attack on a United Nations convoy he was traveling with in the country’s restive east.

Italy’s foreign ministry confirmed the death of Ambassador Luca Attanasio and an Italian security guard as a result of the attack near the city of Goma.

Both victims were traveling with the UN’s DRC mission, MONUSCO, according to the ministry.

Luigi Di Maio, Italy’s foreign minister, said it was “profound sadness” that he had learned of the “violent” assassination of the ambassador and the security guard in the line of duty.

The northeast of the DRC has been the scene of an armed conflict for years.

Local and foreign armed groups fuel the instability in the region despite the presence of some 15,000 members of the UN’s mission in the country and soldiers from the DRC’s Armed Forces. EFE-EPA

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