Italy paid national tribute Thursday, February 25 to its ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killed with his bodyguard in the attack on a convoy of the World Food Program (WFP).
Read also: Italian Ambassador killed in the DRC: the road did not require an escort
Luca Attanasio, 43, died after being shot and wounded when the WFP convoy was ambushed Monday in the province of North Kivu (east), near the border with Rwanda.
His Italian bodyguard, rifleman Vittorio Iacovacci, 30, and Congolese WFP driver Mustafa Baguma Milambo, 56, were also killed.
On Chopin's funeral march, the coffins of the two Italians, repatriated on Tuesday, were carried by carabinieri to the Church of St. Mary of the Angels in Rome, for a state funeral.
Due to the distancing measures due to the Covid-19 epidemic, only a small crowd greeted the two coffins in front of the church.
In the presence of the families of the victims, the head of government Mario Draghi, the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies as well as several ministers attended the ceremony chaired by Cardinal Angelo De Donatis.
Read also: The Italian Ambassador to the DRC killed in an armed attack in the east of the country
“
Today we feel the anguish of three families, two nations and the entire family of nations.
Anguish because the much desired peace is not present (...) because the promises of justice have been betrayed
”, declared the prelate in his homily.
"
Luca, Vittorio and Mustafa were torn from this world by the claws of stupid and ferocious violence (...) which only brings pain
", he adds.
Passionate about Africa, Luca Attanasio is the first Italian ambassador killed in the performance of his duties.
