It is unknown how many civilians and attackers were killed in the skirmish in Ituri Province, according to the Actualite news portal.
"We have found 19 bodies at the scene and counted more or less 30 houses that were burnt in the attack this morning. However, this estimation remains provisional, as the search is ongoing in the bushes where many residents took refuge," Zamundu Batagura, the head of the Tsere group, told the portal.
Local authorities assume that militants of the Patriotic Integrationist Forces of Congo are behind the attack.
The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is fraught with violence and instability caused by armed rebel groups.