The European Parliament condemned in the strongest terms on Thursday 11 March the killing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) of Italian Ambassador Luca Attanasio, his driver Mustapha Milambo and Italian police officer Vittorio Iacovacci during an attack on a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy near Goma (North Kivu) on 22 February (see EUROPE 12668/21, 12663/4).
In a resolution on the human rights situation in the east of the country, adopted by an overwhelming majority (669 votes in favour, 4 against and 17 abstentions), MEPs call for a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killings.
They welcome President Tshisekedi’s commitment to an investigation and urge the DRC government and provincial leaders to cooperate fully with the Italian authorities and the UN.
Parliament strongly insists that the DRC authorities must redouble their efforts to stop armed attacks on civilians and thoroughly, independently, effectively and impartially investigate all killings in order to bring those responsible to justice in fair trials.
Parliament also expresses its concern at the continuing serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law against civilians in the east of the country, including summary executions, sexual and gender-based violence, the large-scale recruitment and use of children by armed groups and the killing of civilians by members of the DRC security forces.
It stresses that these acts may constitute war crimes under international law. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)