Assassination of Italian Ambassador in Congo

Congo 

Italy's ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo has been assassinated. Italian Ambassador Luca Atanasio was killed in an attack at 10:15 a.m. local time on Monday.

He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead.

He was part of a United Nations team in eastern Congo. The UN team is said to be affiliated with the World Food Program.

The team also included an Italian police officer. He was also killed in the attack, according to international news agencies.

The Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the incident and expressed its sorrow over the incident.

Ambassador Atanasio, 43, has been working in the Congo since 2017.

The Congo, which has been embroiled in years of civil war, is estimated to have lost some five million people between 1994 and 2003. Dozens of armed groups are still active in the eastern part of the country.