Slain Italian Ambassador Remembered for Supporting Missionaries, Volunteers in DR Congo

The attack occurred as the convoy carrying the ambassador was travelling from the city of Goma to visit a World Food Programme (WFP) school feeding project in Rutshuru.

Officials in North Kivu Governor told Al Jazeera the seven-member convoy was not escorted by any security forces when the incident happened.

Aged 43, Luca was married and had three children. The former journalist had been at the helm of Italy’s mission in the capital of DRC, Kinshasa, since 2017. He became ambassador in 2019.

Pope Francis has praised the “exemplary witness” of the Italian Ambassador, and the “expert and generous service” of the police officer, both slain in the February 22 attack.

In his Tuesday, February 23 telegram to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, the Holy Father expresses his sorrow regarding the murder, describing those who were killed as “servants of peace.”

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According to the Holy Father, Luca was a Christian who was dedicated to establish “fraternal and cordial relationships, to reestablish serene and harmonious relationships in the heart of the African country.”

In her interview with Agenzia Fides, Monica narrates that Ambassador Attanasio went to North Kivu to see firsthand the difficult situation of the local populations.

“For him, it was important to see a certain reality in order to have a direct vision and be a true witness,” the Salesian mission VIS volunteer says.

Concerning the dynamics of the ambush, Monica declares, “I do not have the elements to make assumptions about what happened.”

“If the emotion caused by the death of our compatriots in Italy is understandable, we must not give in to anger and I hope that an act of this kind will not make someone say that they must no longer help the Congo,” she says, and adds, “This would go against the spirit that animated Luca Attanasio, who believed that the Democratic Republic of Congo should have its rightful place among the nations.”

Hinting on the situation of the Central African country following the killings, Monica says, “The reaction of the Congolese is pain and dismay.”

She urges international media to expose the evils in the country, including bringing to light the frequent attacks that claim the lives of locals. The Salesian volunteer argues that DRC is only exposed to the world when attacks are meted against foreigners.

“Many people wonder why our country makes international headlines only when such tragedies occur. Indeed, the international press only deals with the DRC and in particular this region when foreign nationals and especially Westerners are involved in the violence,” Monica says.

She adds that violence against local populations “is almost daily and that they are passed over in silence.”

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.