Rwanda has dismissed criticism from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over its sponsorship deals with European football giants Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), calling it a threat to regional peace and stability.
Earlier this month, DRC’s Foreign Minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, urged the clubs to end their partnerships with “Visit Rwanda,” branding the deals as “blood-stained” while conflict rages in eastern Congo. Wagner questioned the ethics of such agreements, given Rwanda’s alleged support for the M23 rebels, who have recently seized key territories in eastern DRC.
In response, the Rwanda Development Board, which oversees the sponsorships, rejected what it called “misinformation and political pressure” from the DRC.
“These efforts not only misrepresent the truth but also threaten the foundations of regional peace, stability, and economic cooperation that we have worked tirelessly to build,” the board said in a statement on Thursday.
The DRC foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The ongoing conflict in eastern Congo has led to severe human rights violations, including summary executions, displacement camp bombings, and sexual violence, according to the United Nations.
Rwanda has defended its actions, accusing the Congolese military of aligning with ethnic Hutu militias that it says pose a direct threat to Rwanda. The conflict stems from deep-rooted tensions dating back to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, after which some Hutu fighters fled to Congo.
Rwanda’s “Visit Rwanda” sponsorship with Arsenal began in 2018, reportedly worth over $12 million annually. Bayern Munich signed a five-year tourism and football development partnership with Rwanda in 2023, while PSG has been a sponsor since 2019.
Despite inquiries, none of the three clubs have publicly commented on the controversy.
