Former Italian honorary consul in Rwanda Pierantonio Costa passed away on Friday night in Germany. The 81-year-old served as Rwanda’s honorary consul between 1988 and 2003.
Costa had initially moved to Congo to join his father before moving to Rwanda in 1965 where he later served as the honorary consul.
During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the late Costa was credited for saving lives by sneaking survivors into nearby Burundi.
Using his diplomatic privileges, Costa is said to have made multiple trips between Rwanda and Burundi rescuing survivors including children at Red Cross orphanage.
Costa was nominated alongside Zura Karuhimbi and Yolande Mukagasana for the 2011 Nobel Prize.
Costa has a daughter and 2 sons. One of his sons, Olivier Costa, lives in Kigali running businesses in advertising, print among others.
Italian honorary consul, Bruno Puggia, termed the late Costa as a ‘very good man’ who did a lot for both the Rwandan and Italian communities.
Puggia said that Costa will be remembered for his efforts to save as many lives as he could during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He added that Costa will also be remembered as a hard-working businessman.
