Tensions heightened in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) yesterday when clashes occurred between security forces and rebel fighters who unleashed terror on a Butembo prison killing South African Officials.

According to ceoafrica, around 6am (04:00 GMT), the assailants, who were likely Mai-Mai fighters, launched an attack against the prison and other places which led to the death of South African peacekeeper, rebels, one local policeman and injury of two others.

Although the reason for the attack remained unclear, it was further gathered from residents that the Mai-Mai rebels have staged several attacks in Butembo as information heard about possible overthrow of Kabila caused the attack.

Butembo is a city in North Kivu, in the north eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, lying west of the Virunga National Park. is a city of around one million people in the troubled North Kivu province in the east of the country.