DR Congo urges Arsenal, Bayern Munich & PSG to cut 'blood-stained' Visit Rwanda sponsorships

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) foreign minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, has called on Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to end their sponsorship agreements with "Visit Rwanda," citing the worsening humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo.

The DRC health ministry reported on Saturday that nearly 800 bodies are in hospital morgues in Goma, following an offensive by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. The city, a key hub for gold, coltan, and tin mining, has seen hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians seeking shelter from escalating violence.

The United Nations has documented serious human rights abuses in the region, including summary executions, the bombing of displacement camps, and widespread sexual violence.

In letters sent this week, Wagner directly addressed Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and PSG, questioning the ethics of their sponsorships. She referenced a UN report stating that 4,000 Rwandan troops are active in DR Congo and accused Rwanda of direct involvement in the humanitarian crisis.

"Thousands are currently trapped in the city of Goma with restricted access to food, water, and security," Wagner said in her letters, according to a statement from the DRC’s foreign ministry.

"Countless lives have been lost; rape, murder, and theft prevail. Your sponsor is directly responsible for this misery. If not for your own consciences, then the clubs should do it (end their sponsorship agreement) for the victims of Rwandan aggression."

Rwanda denies supporting M23 rebels, instead accusing Congo’s military of collaborating with Hutu-led militias that threaten Rwanda. These militias include some responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when Hutu extremists massacred Tutsis, some of whom later fled to Congo.

Congo, in turn, accuses Rwanda of backing M23 to exploit its mineral resources.

Visit Rwanda’s High-Profile Football Sponsorships

• Arsenal partnered with Visit Rwanda in 2018, with its latest deal worth over £10 million ($12.39 million) per year.
• Bayern Munich signed a five-year tourism and football development deal with Rwanda in 2023.
• PSG has been a Visit Rwanda sponsor since 2019.

The controversy extends beyond football. British Foreign Minister David Lammy told UK Parliament that Rwanda receives over $1 billion in global aid annually, including £32 million in UK bilateral assistance. However, he warned:

"All of that is under threat when you attack your neighbours."

SportsLigue