Death of the Italian ambassador in the DRC: Kinshasa accuses the FDLR, which denies
A medical vehicle from North Kivu province on a road on the edge of Virunga park after the attack that claimed the lives of the Italian ambassador, his bodyguard and their driver on February 22, 2021. AFP - ALEXIS HUGUET
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The Congolese authorities attributed the attack which claimed the life of the Italian ambassador in Kinshasa and two others in eastern DRC on Monday to Rwandan Hutu rebels of the FDLR.
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Reactions multiply after
the murder of the Italian ambassador
, his bodyguard and a driver of the World Food Program (WFP) during a kidnapping foiled by the army and the guards of the Virunga park north of the city of Goma in North Kivu.
According to the authorities' version, these members of the procession died while the security forces tried to release them after their kidnapping.
They point the finger at the rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, reports
our correspondent in Kinshasa,
Pascal Mulegwa
.
According to the Kivu Security Barometer, the FDLR may be responsible for this attack.
But, it is too early to confirm it, because this group is not the only one to operate in this area, at the foot of the Nyiragongo volcano, the Barometer said in a note to RFI.
The FDLR themselves have denied, saying their troops are too far from the area, which they say is controlled by the Congolese army.
“
Our troops are very far from the tragedy.
This despicable act took place between Goma and Kibumba where elements of the FARDC are installed, beyond the road that leads from Goma to Rutshuru,
reacted Colonel Placide Niyiturinda, spokesperson for their fighting armed forces
.
So the FDLR have nothing to do with this attack.
An international investigation must be carried out for the truth to be established
”.
Unstable area
The Congolese security services are embarrassed by this situation.
The Interior Ministry insisted in a statement that the ambassador's trip had not been notified to the authorities.
"
The security services and the provincial authorities were unable to ensure specific security measures for the convoy, nor to come to their aid due to lack of information on their presence in this part of the country which is considered unstable
."
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To read also: DRC: the Italian ambassador killed in an armed attack
The route taken by the ambassador's convoy, which went to Rutshuru territory, was classified as yellow by WFP.
That is to say, it was necessary to travel in a convoy or at least two cars, the escort was not compulsory.
Although security has improved, over the past two years there are some historic cases of attacks in this area.
In 2018, two British tourists and their Congolese driver were kidnapped there.
The governor of North Kivu Carly Nzanzu Kasivita also points out that the FDLR have developed a real ransom economy in the region, according to him.
“
The area of Virunga park on the outskirts of Kibumba is an area of FDLR influence.
They are in the region logging and today, with the scarcity of wood, they have developed a strategy of kidnapping people.
"
A "terrorist attack"
The Congolese government "
regrets this tragedy
" and ensures "to
spare no effort for the restoration of security
" in this region "
in the grip of national and foreign armed groups
".
In a message read in the evening by his spokesperson on national television, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi condemned "
with the greatest firmness this terrorist attack
" and asked that the perpetrators of the attack be "
identified and brought before the justice
”.
I promise the Italian government that the government of my country will do everything to find out who is behind this heinous murder.
Marie Ntumba Nzenza, Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs
Pascal Mulegwa
On the side of the Western chancelleries, doubts still weigh on the very circumstances of the incident, who fired the bullets which hit the ambassador and his bodyguard killed during an exchange of fire with the park guards?
For the governor of North Kivu, it was the kidnappers themselves who shot the two foreigners and their Congolese driver.
This incident worries the Congolese authorities at the highest summit of the state.
A crisis committee met around President Félix Tshisekedi who decided to send a presidential team to Goma to support investigations into the attack.
An emissary of the Congolese president is due to travel to Rome this Tuesday to bring Tshisekedi's personal letter to the President of the Italian Council.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on the Congolese government "
to quickly investigate this heinous attack by a joint mission on the ground and bring the perpetrators to justice
."
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