DR Congo's Foreign Minister Urges European Football Clubs to End Sponsorship Deals with Rwanda

The Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo has called on top European football clubs, including Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain, to terminate their sponsorship agreements with the Rwandan government. This request follows the recent military intervention of Rwanda in the DRC and the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Minister, highlighted the severity of the situation in her correspondence with these clubs, referring to a UN report indicating that approximately 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are currently stationed in the DRC. She emphasized that thousands of people in Goma are facing dire conditions, struggling to secure food, water, and safety amid ongoing conflict.

Recent reports from the Congolese Health Ministry reveal a staggering death toll, with around 800 bodies found in Goma's hospital morgues. This escalation in violence follows an offensive by the M23 rebel group, backed by Rwandan forces, aiming to capture Goma, a city rich in gold, coltan, and tin resources.

The humanitarian crisis has intensified, forcing hundreds of thousands to seek refuge in Goma as they flee from clashes between M23 rebels and the Congolese military. The M23 group has declared its intention to advance further, with the aim of seizing the capital, Kinshasa.

Wagner underscored the clubs' responsibility as sponsors for the suffering experienced by the local population, reiterating that their financial ties to Rwanda contribute to the ongoing turmoil. According to the United Nations, the conflict has led to numerous human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, attacks on refugee camps, and sexual violence.

In response to these developments, Rwanda has defended its actions, asserting that they are merely acting in self-defense against threats posed by Congolese military alliances with ethnically motivated militias targeting Tutsis, which has historical roots in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The Congolese government has vehemently rejected these claims, accusing Rwanda of using the M23 rebels to exploit valuable resources from Congolese territory. The ongoing conflict continues to create a cycle of violence and humanitarian distress in the region, drawing international attention to the instability and human rights abuses that have persisted for years.