Demonstrations began on Monday in the city of Goma and spread on Tuesday to Butembo, where a UN soldier and two UN police with the mission were shot dead.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the first of about 80 military personnel arrived in Gabon on Wednesday in case they are needed to protect U.S. citizens and diplomatic facilities in Congo's capital Kinshasa.

More than 44 people have been killed in Congo in two days of street clashes between security forces and protesters against a delayed presidential election.