The international body "is considering a range of ways to strengthen the capabilities of MONUSCO to protect civilians from the threat of armed groups in the vast area of eastern DR Congo," a U.N. spokesman says.

"Unarmed aerial vehicles, drones for monitoring the movements of armed groups, are one tool we are considering."

The spokesman, Kieran Dwyer, insists the U.N.'s use of drones would be done carefully.

"Of course, we would do this carefully, in full cooperation with the government of the DR Congo, and trialing their most effective uses for information gathering to help implement our mandate to protect civilians," says the spokesman.

"Ultimately, to introduce these, we would need the support of member states to equip the mission."