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.

The minister’s accusation comes after M23 appointed administrators last week in the areas it claims to control.

More than 100 armed groups have been vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo, near the border with Rwanda, and the violence has escalated as the M23 rebel group has re-emerged.

The conflict has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with more than seven million people displaced, many beyond the reach of aid.

M23 is mainly made up of ethnic Tutsis who broke away from the Congolese army just over a decade ago.

The group rose to prominence in 2012 when its fighters seized Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city, on the border with Rwanda.

Congo alleges that Rwanda has been involved in war crimes in the east and UN experts accuse it of giving military backing to M23.

Rwanda denies the claim, but it admitted in February that it had troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to safeguard its security, pointing to a build-up of Congolese forces near the border.

UN experts estimate there are up to 4,000 Rwandan troops in Congo.

A July truce brokered by the United States and Angola has reduced the fighting between Rwandan and Congolese forces, but clashes between M23 and other militias continues.

In August, fighting between the rebels and pro-government militias killed 16 villagers in violation of a truce supposed to help millions of displaced people.