Authorities suspect Daesh militants were involved in the terrorist attack explosion.
The Democratic Republic of Congo government has blamed the Daesh group-affiliated rebels for a bomb attack at a Pentecostal church in Kasindi, in the east of the country.
17 people were killed as church-goers attended Sunday worship, officials say.
At least 39 were wounded and the Congolese military described it as a “terrorist act” by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The ADF is one of the most notorious active rebel groups in eastern Congo.
In a statement, the Congolese government “strongly condemned” the bomb attack, which it says was “visibly perpetrated by ADF terrorists”.
It expressed its “deepest condolences” to the bereaved families who were victims of “this despicable terrorist act”.
The UN mission in DR Congo condemned “the cowardly and despicable attack” in Kasindi.
Its comments were echoed by Congolese military spokesman Antony Mualushayi, who said: “It is clear that this is a terrorist act perpetrated by the ADF terrorists who have suffered casualties in several battlefields by the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo”.
Mr Mualushayi added that an “improvised explosive device” was used in the attack.
Kasindi is roughly 8 kilometres (5 miles) away from Beni where the ADF is active.
