Italian ambassador to Democratic Congo was hit and killed... Security guard and driver

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The Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, his bodyguard and driver, died in an attack on a UN convoy in the eastern region on the 22nd (local time), Reuters reported, citing the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local authorities.

The attack on the UN convoy was carried out at 10:15 a.m. near the town of Kaniamahoro, about 25 km north of the local capital, Goma, during a kidnapping attempt, a spokesman for Virunga National Park told Reuters.

The deaths were ambassador Luca Atanasio (43), Italian military policeman Vittorio Iakobachi (30), and a local knight in the Democratic Congo whose name was unknown, the Italian government confirmed in a statement.

Dozens of armed groups work together inside and outside the Virunga area. Virunga is an area bordering Rwanda and Uganda in Democratic Congo, where park patrols repeatedly attacked, and six people were killed in ambush attacks last month.

Kashivita, Governor Cali Nzanju of North Kivus, told Reuters that the gangs had stopped the convoy with warning fire.

Italian Ambassador Atanasio, attacked and killed in Democratic Congo

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They killed the knight and dragged others into the woods before being shot by a park patrol.

The gangsters then killed the bodyguard and the ambassador died, Governor Eun Jan-ju added.

Virunga spokesman Oliver Mukchisia said it was not yet known who was behind the attack, and that no one has committed himself.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said in a statement, “In a truly tremendous shock and sorrow, I learned about the deaths of our ambassador to the Democratic Congo and the Italian military police.”

According to the website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Atanasio has been the head of the Italian delegation in Kinshasa since 2017, and then became ambassador in 2019. The bereaved family is a wife and three young daughters, which are listed on his Facebook page.

Mauro Garopolo of Santegidio, a Catholic charity in Rome, said, “The deceased is a passionate young diplomat and has a great sensibility to social problems. He has been working closely with our work to help people suffering from HIV.” I followed.”

View of the Italian Embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Congo