The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group of “ethnic cleansing” in North Kivu’s Rutshuru and Masisi territories. This accusation was levelled by the DRC’s interior minister, Jacquemain Shabani, who alleged that local populations were violently expelled to make way for “foreign populations.” The accusation follows M23’s recent appointment of administrators in the areas it claims to control. The rebel group, composed mainly of ethnic Tutsis, has intensified conflict in eastern Congo, contributing to a humanitarian crisis that has displaced over 7 million people. Congo also accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 militarily, a claim backed by US and UN experts but denied by Rwanda. Despite a US-Angola-brokered truce in July, clashes persist between M23 and local militias, with recent violence killing 16 villagers. The mineral-rich region remains plagued by unrest, as over 100 armed groups vie for control.
SOURCE: AFRICA NEWS
