Investigation into Luca Attanasio assassination

In February 2021, an ambush in the Democratic Republic of Congo killed Italian Ambassador Luca Attanasio, Carabinieri officer Dario Iacovacci, and World Food Programme driver Mustapha Milambo. Five years after the incident, the victims’ families have continued to demand accountability and truth from the Italian state, with legal motions filed in Rome and with the International Criminal Court.

Recently, the Rome Prosecutor’s Office requested to archive the investigation, stating that sufficient evidence to meet Italian legal standards regarding the responsibility of individuals previously convicted by Congolese authorities could not be acquired. Prosecutors noted that alternative investigative hypotheses lacked corroborating evidence and cited a lack of cooperation from Congolese authorities, which prevented field investigations or the collection of testimonies according to Italian law.

Responses to the archiving request have diverged. Zakia Seddiki, the widow of Ambassador Attanasio, indicated she would not oppose the decision, noting that no evidence was found to confirm the responsibility of those convicted in the Congo or to support alternative theories. However, lawyers for the Iacovacci family intend to formally oppose the dismissal, seeking further inquiries into potential omissions or cover-ups.