The Democratic Republic of Congo’s foreign minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, has urged football clubs Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain to terminate their sponsorship agreements with “Visit Rwanda” due to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the country.
The call comes after the M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, launched a major offensive to seize Goma, a key city in eastern DR Congo. The attack has led to a sharp rise in casualties, with nearly 800 bodies reported in Goma’s morgues, according to the DR Congo health ministry.
The fighting has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation, displacing hundreds of thousands of people into Goma. Human rights violations, including killings, bombings of refugee camps, and reports of sexual violence, have been documented by the United Nations.
In letters sent to the three clubs, Wagner questioned the morality of maintaining ties with “Visit Rwanda,” which sponsors the clubs. She cited a U.N. report suggesting the presence of 4,000 Rwandan troops in DR Congo and urged the clubs to end the sponsorships to support the victims of the violence.
Wagner stated that the ongoing violence has left thousands trapped in Goma with limited access to food, water, and safety. She accused Rwanda of being directly responsible for the suffering, calling on the clubs to reconsider their associations.
“Visit Rwanda” began sponsoring Arsenal in 2018, with the deal reportedly worth over £10 million per year. The tourism board also signed a five-year deal with Bayern Munich in 2023 and has been a sponsor of PSG since 2019.
