Luca Attanasio, the 43-year-old Italian Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, has died on Monday after his United Nations, (UN) convoy came under fire near Goma, a statement said.
Mr. Attanasio was reportedly travelling in the UN convoy which belonged to the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP).
An Italian military police officer travelling with the envoy and a third person are also dead according to the reports.
The attack is believed to have been an attempted kidnapping, according to officials at the nearby Virunga National Park.
The attack which happened at around 10:15 local time (08:15 GMT) just north of Goma, has not been traced to any group, but many armed groups are known to operate in and around the park.
Congolese Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, while expressing his dismay and immense sorrow at the incident, said: “It is with deep sadness that the foreign ministry confirms the death, today in Goma, of the Italian ambassador. No effort will be spared to shed light on what happened”.
