The Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo has been killed in Goma, Italy’s foreign ministry has said. Italy’s ambassador to the DRC, an Italian policeman and their Congolese driver have been killed in an ambush on a United Nations convoy in eastern DRC.
According to local Congolese media, the ambush that killed the ambassador took place on Monday as a convoy of Ambassador Luca Attanasio was traveling from Goma to visit the World Food Program (WFP) feeding program in Rutshuru. According to the United Nations, several other passengers with the delegation were injured during the attack, but the ambassador was confirmed dead.
“It is with great sadness that Farnesina confirms the deaths today of the Italian Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo Luca Attanasio and a Carabinieri soldier,” a statement from the Foreign Ministry said.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of DRC’s killing ambassador blamed “members of the Forces Democratic Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)” – the front Rutuda of opposition Hutu in the eastern region for more than a quarter of a century, but the team will certainly denied to following the assassination of the ambassador and his entourage.
However, relations between the two countries have been severely damaged. The group accused of the killings has distanced itself from the case and has denied the allegations. “The FDLR declares that it is not involved in any of these attacks,” the group said in a statement. The FDLR instead blamed the Rwandan army and the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) for the attack.
A security meeting of the security officials said the perpetrators of the cowardly killings were being tracked down. Christian Bushiri, senior adviser to President Felix Tshisekedi visited the family of Congolese driver Mustafa killed in an ambush. He said such massacres would not happen again to families and that the perpetrators would be prosecuted.
At a meeting of the Union of Candidates today, they again warned the outdated Farmajo government against blocking Friday’s protests. According to Union of Candidates spokesman DahirMohamudGele, they will hold another large-scale demonstration against illegitimate President Farmajo on Friday, and warned that the Farmajo government will once again commit the heinous act it committed on February 19th.
Since Farmajo’s late government blocked protests against the illegitimate government on February 19th, there has been criticism of Farmajo’s dictatorial actions. The union of candidates and their supporters gathered peacefully in the squares of Mogadishu to express their feelings and to oppose the illegitimate president Farmajo.
The actions of 19 February were an act of oppression, repression and dictatorship that Farmajo sought to silence the people who opposed his failed rule. People are against current transition government, and demanding immediate elections, to save the country from political crisis and civil war.
The Union of Candidates has vowed to continue protests demanding Farmajo’s resignation or to hold emergency election. The union has once again called for mass protests against dictatorship and the suppression of Farmajo and called for snap elections.
A spokesman for the Union of Candidates, DahirGeele, said: “”We did not allow ourselves to be coerced and we refused. We, the Somalis, have not accepted it before, and we cannot accept it now. We have decided next Friday that we want to hold a peaceful demonstration. We want to know the checkpoints and not to obey the terrorists. It is rejected, it is difficult, but if “Ignore what is happening to you. It is more than what you are doing. We do not want Somalis to be oppressed by what we have taught them. It is illegal and not legal to prevent peaceful demonstrations.”
Attempts to bring the opposition and the government closer have reportedly failed, with the opposition refusing to cancel the protests. The government demanded that the opposition cancel its promised demonstrations, but the opposition imposed sanctions. They demanded that the government apologize for what happened on 19 February and take responsibility for what happened there.
Reports add that the outgoing government of Farmajo rejected the suggestion and while opposition parties insisted to continue the rallies. However, the power of the opposition and the people are emerging as they demand that Farmajo step down or run for office as he is an interim president with no immunity, at this time according to the opposition.
Nigeria Genes, Irish/German/ American Raised
I want to keep this as short as possible with leaving the option available for people to ask questions and engage me in conversation.
I am but a humble man who wants to seek something I’ve never had. Honestly I’m only looking for inclusion and understanding. Please ask clarification of any point I bring up.
I grew up in eastern Germany and Northern Italy, for my early years, (until 6, and scattered teens) and then the Deep South (America) until my current age. (Near 30)
I was apart of a “native tribe” (Lumbee) that never truly accepted me. No matter my families link with the most prevalent name in the tribe, I was never accepted culturally as a Lumbee Native. We are a mixed (ethnic) tribe (by a maximum of debate). Only state recognized as a Native American tribe (as opposed to nationally like most other tribes). Mixed heritage of slaves from the former Irish and German slave traders on the east coast of the Carolinas. The name Roanoke may ring familiar to many. Im not here to debate there authentic nature. I just want state a basis of the culture I grew up.
The Lumbee people have a mixed opinion on what’s “true Lumbee” despite evidence that we are mixed and look as such. Forward to me, a light brown kid that can pass as anything from Hispanic to Arab.
I have a funny sounding Italian name that, to people without understanding of much of the outside world, sounded very Hispanic. Therefor I was labeled as such ,and spent most of my young life with my new Mexican, Guatemalan and Dominican friends. I was never accepted by the lumbees enough to participate in their “culture”. So I was exiled.
Even with my constant interactions, respect and due diligence to my Hispanic comrades, I was still seems only as an honorary member. At the time I only wanted to be around to people that wanted me around so this was more than enough. But still I longed for a sense of being.
Fast forward even further to my late 20’s I recently found out my (and many people before me) ethnicity had way more of a diverse portfolio than people had thought. A genetics test showed I was 25% Nigerian with the rest being a combo of Irish/ German and French/ British.
No Italian despite my name and Citizenship. (And Italian families in ability to accept my darker skin)
Hạnh Dương
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