On February 22, the Italian Ambassador to the DRC Luca Attanasio died alongside an employee of the Italian Embassy after their car was attacked as they traveled in as part of a humanitarian vehicle convoy of the UN World Food Program in the outskirts of Goma, North Kivu province.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov sent a message of condolences and words of support to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic L. Di Maio. At this difficult moment, we mourn together with the friendly people of Italy.

The assassination has once again highlighted multiple security concerns in the DRC, where the eastern and northeastern provinces are the most volatile, with more than 150 illegal armed groups operating on their territory. Primarily peaceful Congolese citizens fall victims to their vicious acts of violence.

We believe that the tragedy that occurred on February 22 once again raises the question of the need for additional effective measures aimed at ensuring security in the east of the DRC and in the Great Lakes Region, improving the humanitarian and socio-economic situation in the country.