Beni, (AFP) - Four policemen were killed Friday at an important commercial crossroads in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC ) during a demonstration against insecurity, a military source told AFP.

Colonel Mozibo i Pap told AFP that during the demonstration, armed men emerged from the crowd near the Kangute district of Butembo (North Kivu in the east) and fired at the police who were accompanying the demonstrators.

While he was hearing gunfire throughout the city, the colonel, whose men came to support the police, said, "The initial outcome indicates that 4 policemen were killed by those attackers who were among the demonstrators, and 3 four-wheel drive vehicles were burned."

For its part, the "Security Barometer in Kivu" program, which has experts in this city, stated that "the security forces have been under attack since the morning in Butembo. At least two policemen were killed, including the deputy (police) commander."

"The situation is dangerous at the moment. It seems that an armed group whose origin we don't know is invading Butembo from the Kangute region," Mathi Senan, head of civil society in Butembo, told AFP.

Four peacekeepers were killed in Butembo on July 26 during demonstrations against the United Nations.

The situation has been tense in Butembo since the beginning of the week.

Two policemen were killed Wednesday in an attack on the Butembo prison by members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which Islamic State says is its Central African branch.

The ADF is accused of killing thousands of civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of launching jihadist attacks in neighboring Uganda.

Since the end of November 2021, the Congolese and Ugandan armies have been carrying out joint operations in an attempt to eliminate the Allied Democratic Forces, but they have so far failed to put an end to the massacres and violence.