Monday, the Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed the killing of its ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Luca Atanazio, noting that he was on a trip with a UN convoy in the east of the country.

"It is with deep sadness that the Foreign Ministry confirms the killing today in Goma, of Italy's ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Luca Atanazio and a soldier," the ministry said in a statement.

According to a diplomatic source in Kinshasa, the ambassador was shot dead.

The Italian president has since condemned the 'cowardly attack.'