Congo's government accused the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group of ethnic cleansing in eastern Congo, citing the forced displacement of locals in North Kivu. M23, made up mostly of Tutsis, has reignited violence in the region, which has led to a severe humanitarian crisis.

On Tuesday, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo accused the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group of committing “ethnic cleansing” in the country’s eastern region.

The Minister of the Interior, Jacquemain Shabani, condemned the “massive arrival of foreign populations” in the Rutshuru and Masisi territories of North Kivu province, where local inhabitants were reportedly "expelled by violence."

Shabani stated, “This is what constitutes ethnic cleansing.”

The accusation comes on the heels of M23 appointing administrators to govern areas it claims to control, which they did last week.

Eastern Congo, a mineral-rich region bordering Rwanda, has long been a battleground for more than 100 armed groups competing for control. The violence has intensified following the resurgence of the M23 rebel group, contributing to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with over 7 million people displaced, many of whom are inaccessible to aid workers.

The M23, or March 23 Movement, is a predominantly Tutsi rebel group that split from the Congolese military over a decade ago. It gained international attention in 2012 when it seized Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, located on the Rwanda border.

Congo has accused Rwanda of involvement in war crimes in the region, and U.S. and U.N. experts have claimed that Rwanda has provided military support to M23. Rwanda denies these allegations but, in February, acknowledged deploying troops and missile systems to eastern Congo, citing the need to protect its security due to a buildup of Congolese forces near the border. U.N. experts estimate that up to 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are stationed in Congo.

A ceasefire brokered in July by the United States and Angola has helped reduce hostilities between Rwandan and Congolese forces, though fighting between M23 and other militias persists.

In August, clashes between the M23 rebels and pro-government militias resulted in the deaths of 16 villagers, further breaching the truce intended to alleviate the suffering of millions displaced by the conflict.