Joseph Kabila's residence burned down in DR Congo

A residence of President Joseph Kabila was burned down early Monday in a suspected militia attack that killed a police officer in the Democratic Republic of Congo, witnesses said.

So-called Mai-Mai armed groups were probably trying to steal goods from the building in Musienene, North Kivu Province, in the country's troubled east, according to a military official.

"The residence of the head of state in Musienene has been targeted in an attack from 03:00 (01:00 GMT) and then burned by the Mai-Mai," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"The attackers ransacked everything before setting the house and some vehicles on fire."

Kabila spends most of his time in the capital, Kinshasa, but is believed to have several homes across the country, including a farm.

Musienene regularly sees protests against Kabila's extended time in power and demonstrations over insecurity.

He has managed to cling to power despite his second and final term as president officially ending on December 2016.

Elections to replace him never took place and a deal was eventually brokered that enabled Kabila to stay in office until a vote that was due to be held in 2017.

The poll has since been postponed until December 23, 2018.

"We saw the flames consume the residence of the president of the republic when we awoke," Pascal Mukondi, a resident of Musienene, said.

Another resident said they "feared retaliation" from the army.