The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has called on top European football clubs, including Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), to terminate their sponsorship agreements with Rwanda’s “Visit Rwanda” tourism campaign. The demand comes over escalating violence in eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have been accused of committing serious human rights violations.
DR Congo’s foreign minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, wrote to the three clubs, urging them to reconsider their ties with Rwanda as fighting intensifies in the mineral-rich region. The DRC health ministry reported on Saturday that nearly 800 bodies were in hospital morgues around Goma following the latest rebel offensive.
The conflict has worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. The United Nations has documented human rights violations, including summary executions, sexual violence, and bombings of displacement camps.
In her letter, Wagner questioned the clubs’ moral responsibility in continuing to endorse Rwanda while it allegedly fuels violence in Congo. She urged the clubs to cut ties with Rwanda, saying, “If not for your own consciences, then do it for the victims of Rwandan aggression.”
Rwanda has denied direct involvement in the M23 rebellion, insisting it is acting in self-defence against Congolese forces allegedly supporting ethnic Hutu militias. These militias include groups responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide, many of whom fled to Congo. Rwanda accuses DR Congo of allowing them to operate freely, a claim Kinshasa denies.
The “Visit Rwanda” sponsorship deals have been a major part of the country’s global branding effort. Arsenal signed its first agreement in 2018, with the latest deal reportedly worth over £10 million ($12.4 million) per year, while Bayern Munich entered a five-year partnership in 2023. PSG has been a sponsor since 2019.
The UK’s foreign minister, David Lammy, recently warned that Rwanda receives over $1 billion in global aid annually, including £32 million in bilateral UK assistance. He stated, “All of that is under threat when you attack your neighbors.”neighbours
With international scrutiny mounting, pressure on these football clubs to reconsider their sponsorship ties with Rwanda is likely to grow.
