Pierantonio Costa
Encyclopedia
Pierantonio Costa is an Italian businessman, diplomat
and a rescuer
of many lives during the Rwandan genocide
.
He was born in Mestre on 7 May 1939 as the fifth of seven children. At age 15 he joined his father who had emigrated to Zaire
. He had his first experience of African wars in 1960 in Bukavu
, where he successfully transported groups of Congolese refugees across Lake Kivu. After a revolt called the Mulelist rebellion broke out, he moved to newly independent Rwanda
where he lived until 1994. Today he divides himself between Kigali and Brussels.
During the Rwandan genocide
, Pierantonio Costa was the Italian Consul in Kigali. From 6 April to 21 July 1994, Costa first saved Italians and Westerners, then he moved to his brother's property in Burundi
and from there he travelled a lot across Rwanda in an unfaltering effort to rescue the people. For this purpose he used his diplomatic role, his network of frienships and acquaintances and his own money (more than 3 million dollars) to get exit permits for those who asked him for help.
By the end of the genocide he had rescued 2,000 people, including 375 children.
He was awarded a gold medal for civil value by the Italian government and received a similar decoration from the Belgian authorities.
This is how he described his deeds: “In the midst of so much violence and suffering, I just did what I had to do. That’s all”.
His story was recorded by journalist Luciano Scalettari, who said:” In my opinion, he is a righteous man, in the sense that the Jews attribute to this term”. Pierantonio Costa replied: ”I only answered the voice of my conscience. When there is something that has to be done, you just get on with it”.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and a rescuer
Rescuer
A Rescuer is a person who rescues something from harm or danger. They are trained in technical rescue, diver rescue, mountain rescue, extrication rescue, or/and advance technical firefighting...
of many lives during the Rwandan genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
.
He was born in Mestre on 7 May 1939 as the fifth of seven children. At age 15 he joined his father who had emigrated to Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
. He had his first experience of African wars in 1960 in Bukavu
Bukavu
Bukavu is a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo , lying at the extreme south-eastern extent of Lake Kivu, west of Cyangugu in Rwanda, and separated from it by the outlet of the Ruzizi River. It is the capital of the Sud-Kivu province and as of 2009 it had an estimated population of...
, where he successfully transported groups of Congolese refugees across Lake Kivu. After a revolt called the Mulelist rebellion broke out, he moved to newly independent Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
where he lived until 1994. Today he divides himself between Kigali and Brussels.
During the Rwandan genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
, Pierantonio Costa was the Italian Consul in Kigali. From 6 April to 21 July 1994, Costa first saved Italians and Westerners, then he moved to his brother's property in Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
and from there he travelled a lot across Rwanda in an unfaltering effort to rescue the people. For this purpose he used his diplomatic role, his network of frienships and acquaintances and his own money (more than 3 million dollars) to get exit permits for those who asked him for help.
By the end of the genocide he had rescued 2,000 people, including 375 children.
He was awarded a gold medal for civil value by the Italian government and received a similar decoration from the Belgian authorities.
This is how he described his deeds: “In the midst of so much violence and suffering, I just did what I had to do. That’s all”.
His story was recorded by journalist Luciano Scalettari, who said:” In my opinion, he is a righteous man, in the sense that the Jews attribute to this term”. Pierantonio Costa replied: ”I only answered the voice of my conscience. When there is something that has to be done, you just get on with it”.