Accusatory fingers have immediately been pointed at the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia, which is believed to be the so-called Islamic State’s central Africa arm.

"The suicide bomber, prevented by security from gaining access to the bar, packed with clients, activated the bomb at the entrance," said military officials in North Kivu province said.

13 people affected by the blast are being treated for their wounds in hospital, but the exact number of people killed has not been fully established.

Shortly after the bomb blast, residents were asked to return to their homes for their own safety.

The explosion occurred at the “In Box” restaurant, and has left devastation in its wake with bodies strewn across the floor and tables thrown askew.

It has been reported that two children are among the dead, as well as two local officials.

As more than 30 people were celebrating Christmas at the restaurant, the bomb went off killing several and injuring scores.

"I was sitting there," local radio presenter Nicolas Ekila said. "There was a motorbike parked there. Suddenly the motorbike took off, then there was a deafening noise."

This has not been the first such attack.

On June 27, in Beni, a blast from an improvised explosive device (IED) went off at a Catholic church.

As a result of this blast, two women were injured and a man died when the bomb he was carrying went off.

The authorities blamed ADF for this attack, too.

On November 30, government forces belonging to the DRC and Uganda launched a joint operation against the ADF in the east of the country.

The ADF is historically a Ugandan rebel coalition whose biggest group comprised Muslims opposed to Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

ADF has been blamed for the killings of many civilians over the past decade in the DRC and Uganda.