The UN mission in the country, Monusco, is being criticised for failing to help restore peace in eastern DR Congo in the more than 20 years that the force has been deployed to the conflict-torn region.

People have been sharing images on social media of people chanting against the presence of the peacekeepers in the country as others loot materials at Monusco's main base in Goma.

Most markets and shops were closed on Monday in the nearly one million population town "in fear of looting by protesters" Eliezer Makambo, a local businessman told BBC Great Lakes.

Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, said on Twitter that the government “condemns any sort of attack on UN personnel and premises”.

Mr Muyaya said those responsible of Monday protests in Goma “will be seriously punished”.

With more than 15,000 peacekeepers, Monusco remains the largest UN force globally.

It had been in eastern DR Congo for more than two decades, but the region remains insecure.

Eastern DR Congo is home to more than 100 rebel groups, including M23 that has now captured areas dozens of kilometres from Goma.