KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, March 6 (UPI) -- The United Nations is leading a mission to de-mine a transportation route in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after a recent discovery of anti-tank mines.

U.N. officials say local residents in DR Congo while walking along the important road linking Kabalo and Katutu discovered two anti-tank mines. The discovery prompted officials to shut the road down. Now the U.N. Mine Action Coordination Center has begun a de-mining operation to clear the route, the United Nations reported.

Officials say the mines are likely the result of years of violence in the region. The United Nations recently announced plans to deploy additional peacekeepers in the DR Congo after an outburst of violence in the western Bas-Congo province where seven people were killed and a dozen more were injured.

The MACC announced it has begun the clearing operation along the key transportation route in the southern province of Katanga.

The "non-governmental organization Danish Church Aid and the South African mine clearance company Mechem are part of the joint effort," the release said.