THE Democratic Republic of the Congo’s government has accused the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group of “ethnic cleansing” in the east of the country.

Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani denounced “massive arrival of foreign populations” in the territories of Rutshuru and Masisi in North Kivu province, alleging that locals were “expelled by violence."

“This is what constitutes ethnic cleansing,” Mr Shabani said on Tuesday.