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Violence is endemic in eastern Congo: what drives it

Violence is endemic in eastern Congo: what drives it

ON February 23, the Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Luca Attanasio, his bodyguard Vittorio Iacovacci and their driver Mustapha Milambo were killed in eastern Congo. They were part of a convoy that travelled from the World Food Programme’s compound in Goma, eastern Congo. PEER SCHOUTEN, Postdoctoral fellow, Danish Institute for International Studies The convoy took a road that forms the eastern border of the Virunga Park – a national park famous for its wild mountain gorillas. The cars were stopped at gunpoint at a place called 3 Antennas near Kibumba, and Milambo was shot; the other…
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State funeral for envoy, bodyguard

State funeral for envoy, bodyguard

ITALY yesterday held a state funeral for its ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo and his bodyguard killed in an ambush that a cardinal said should prompt everyone to "hear the cry" of a people devastated by violence. Luca Attanasio, 43, and Vittorio Iacovacci, 30, were shot dead after being kidnapped while travelling in a United Nations' World Food Programme convoy to visit a school feeding project on Monday. WFP driver Mustapha Milambo was also killed. The funeral, attended by Prime Minister Mario Draghi and other ministers, was held in the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels and…
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Strict rules for foreign diplomats’ travel

Strict rules for foreign diplomats’ travel

HEREWARD HOLLAND DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo's government has required foreign diplomats to inform it of their movements outside the capital Kinshasa following the killing of the Italian ambassador. Ambassador Luca Attanasio, his bodyguard Vittorio Iacovacci and World Food Programme driver Mustapha Milambo were killed by armed men on Monday while travelling in a WFP convoy in the east of the country. President Felix Tshisekedi met his top security advisors on Tuesday to discuss responses to the attack. "Ambassadors and other heads of missions can no longer leave Kinshasa for the interior of the country without informing the head of Congolese…
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