Rebels linked to the Islamic State (IS) group have killed more than 50 people at a funeral ceremony in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials have said.

Most of the victims were hacked with machetes in the night-time assault by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) on a village in North Kivu province, officials added.

This is the latest in a string of attacks linked to the ADF, raising fears that its insurgency is growing in strength.

The ADF emerged in Uganda in the 1990s, accusing the government there of persecuting Muslims. It is now based across the border in DR Congo and carries out attacks in both countries.

"I can confirm a provisional death toll of 50. The victims were caught off guard at a mourning ceremony in the village of Ntoyo," Macaire Sivikunula, a local administrator, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

DR Congo army spokesman Lieutenant Marc Elongo said the ADF fighters had "already committed the massacre" by the time soldiers intervened during Monday night's attack, Reuters reported.

A local broadcaster, Radio Mishapi Voice, quoted witnesses as saying there was "utter carnage" in the village, and some people were also burnt in their homes.

The ADF has not yet commented.

The group is affiliated to the Islamic State's Central African Province.

More than 40 people, including nine children, were killed in an attack by its fighters in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in July, the UN and the military said at the time.

Most of them were worshippers taking part in a night vigil at a church in the town of Komanda when they were attacked.

According to research by BBC Monitoring, nearly 90% of IS operations are now carried out by affiliates in Africa.

| AFP via Getty Images (Pic): Ugandan and DR Congo troops have previously carried out joint operations in a bid to quell the insurgency