The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has called on top European football clubs Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris St-Germain (PSG) to sever their sponsorship deals with Rwanda, citing the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country.
In a statement dated 30 January 2025, Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner described the clubs’ agreements with Rwanda’s tourism board, Visit Rwanda, as “blood-stained” due to alleged human rights abuses by Rwandan forces in eastern DR Congo.
The letter, addressed to the co-owners of Arsenal, Stanley and Josh Kroenke, urged the London club to reconsider its association with Rwanda.
“In the UK, Foreign Secretary David Lammy told President Kagame of Rwanda that ‘Rwanda must act to de-escalate this conflict’ and that an attack on Goma would provoke a strong response from the international community,” the letter read.
“It is time Arsenal ditched its blood-stained sponsorship deal with this oppressor nation. If not for your own consciences, then the club should do it for the victims of Rwandan aggression.”
Minister Wagner questioned the morality of Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and PSG, as well as their players and supporters, for maintaining commercial ties with Rwanda.
“The President of that country, Paul Kagame, is an autocrat, and his army, along with its proxy militia, the M23, are waging war inside the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” she said.
She cited a recent report by a UN Group of Experts, which alleged that at least 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 rebel group in North Kivu.
“The Rwandan Defence Forces have disregarded a ceasefire I agreed with my Rwandan counterpart to bomb homes and hospitals in Goma,” she added.
Rwanda Accused of Seeking Congo’s Minerals
The Congolese government also accused Rwanda of attempting to annex parts of eastern DR Congo for economic gain, particularly for access to valuable minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, and gold.
“You are probably not aware that Rwanda ultimately seeks to annex a large part of eastern Congo for access to our minerals for its own economic gain,” Minister Wagner wrote.
The statement highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Goma, where thousands of civilians are reportedly trapped with limited access to food, water, and security.
“Countless lives have been lost; rape, murder, and theft prevail. Your sponsor is directly responsible for this misery,” she said.
The call for clubs to reconsider their sponsorship deals comes as fighting intensifies in eastern DR Congo.
According to the United Nations, more than 700 people have been killed in the region over the past week. The Congolese health ministry reported that 773 bodies were in hospital morgues in and around Goma following a recent rebel offensive, with more bodies lying in the streets due to morgues exceeding capacity.
The UN estimates that around 2,800 people were injured in the fighting between 26 and 30 January.
Neither Arsenal, Bayern Munich, PSG, nor the Rwandan government have responded to the Congolese minister’s statement.
Background on ‘Visit Rwanda’ Sponsorship
Rwanda’s Visit Rwanda campaign has been a high-profile sponsor in European football, appearing on Arsenal’s sleeves since 2018 and featuring in partnerships with Bayern Munich and PSG. The sponsorship aims to promote tourism in Rwanda, but critics argue it whitewashes the country’s human rights record.
With tensions escalating in eastern DR Congo, the pressure is mounting on the clubs to reconsider their deals.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, it remains to be seen whether Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and PSG will respond to DR Congo’s plea. The international community continues to call for de-escalation, but with violence on the rise, the situation in Goma remains dire.