The Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo was attacked and killed Guterres and the Italian prime minister.

　　China News Service, February 23. According to Euronet, the World Food Program said on the 22nd that a United Nations convoy was under armed attack in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo (DRC)) on the 22nd local time. As a result, the Italian ambassador to the Congo (DRC) Atanasio, his bodyguard, and a WFP staff were killed.

United Nations Secretary-General Guterres and the Italian President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister strongly condemned the incident and expressed condolences to the victims.

　　According to reports, at around 10:00 local time on the 22nd, the UN World Food Program's convoy was attacked near the eastern city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Atanasio, his 30-year-old escort, Yakovac, and a food The driver of the Planning Department was killed at the same time.

　　Atanasio, who died in the attack, was only 43 years old and came from Saronno, Varese Province, Italy. He was one of the youngest Italian ambassadors abroad. He entered the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2003 and worked in Italy. Served in embassies and consulates in Switzerland, Morocco and Nigeria.

Since 2017, he has served as the ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has carried out many humanitarian projects.

　　In response to this incident, Italian Prime Minister Draghi expressed his deepest condolences to Atanasio. President Mattarella strongly condemned the attack and said that Italy mourned the loss of life of public officials of the country and offered to family members. Express condolences.

　　In addition, UN Secretary-General Guterres also expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, as well as the governments of Italy and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Guterres called on the Congolese (DRC) government to promptly investigate this heinous attack on the United Nations joint field mission and bring the perpetrators to justice.

He reiterated that the United Nations will continue to support the efforts of the Congolese (DRC) government and people to achieve peace and stability in the east of the country.

(Boyuan)