Inside Story

How to tackle the violence in eastern DR Congo?

The Italian ambassador to the DRC was killed in the latest attack by a rebel group in the vast country’s east.

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is blaming a Rwandan Hutu rebel group for an attack that killed the Italian ambassador on Monday.

Luca Attanasio, his police guard and a driver died in an ambush on their convoy near Goma, in the DRC’s east.

Rights groups are warning of the increasing threat from rebel groups in the area.

The United Nations’ refugee agency says more than 2,000 civilians were killed there last year.

So why are government and UN peacekeeping troops struggling to contain the violence?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom

Guests:

Maureen Philippon – DRC country director, Norwegian Refugee Council

David Zounmenou – Senior researcher, Institute for Security Studies

Kambale Musavuli – Researcher, Center for Research on the Congo