Six men have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a military tribunal in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the murder of Italy’s ambassador, Luca Attanasio, in February 2021. Attanasio and two others were shot dead after a UN convoy they were travelling in was ambushed in the troubled east of the country, where many armed groups operate.
The ambassador’s driver was killed first, and he and his bodyguard were kidnapped, dying after a rescue operation went wrong. The attack took place in the Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site south of the city of Goma, where the victims were travelling to visit a UN World Food Programme (WFP) feeding initiative.
Five of the six men accused of killing them were arrested in January 2022 and have been in custody at N’Dolo military prison in the capital, Kinshasa. The prosecution said the accused men were part of a “criminal gang” who intended to hold Mr Attanasio and his Italian bodyguard Vittorio Iacovacci for ransom after killing their driver, Mustapha Milambo.
Prosecutor Godé Bamusamba Kabambaa had called for the death penalty, but the tribunal sentenced the men to life in prison. During the trial, which began in October, the defendants claimed that their initial confessions were extracted through torture. Their lawyer, Joseph Amzati, said they would appeal against the life sentences, citing the fact that none of the four survivors of the attack had testified before the tribunal.
The accused, who were all previously employed as motorbike taxi drivers, were ordered to pay $2m (£1.6m) in compensation to the families of the victims. The trial has highlighted the ongoing insecurity in the eastern region of the DR Congo, where various armed groups have been active for years.
In conclusion, the sentencing of the six men to life in prison for the murder of Italy’s ambassador in the DR Congo is a significant development in the case. It underscores the importance of justice and the rule of law in resolving such heinous crimes. The appeal against the life sentences is expected to continue, but the tribunal’s verdict represents a step towards accountability and closure for the victims’ families.
