DR Congo Urges Arsenal, Bayern, PSG To End ‘Blood-stained’ Partnership Deals With Rwanda
This position was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Congo, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner in a statement dated January 30, 2025.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has urged Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris St-Germain to terminate their “blood-stained” sponsorship deals with ‘Visit Rwanda’ amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country.
This position was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Congo, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner in a statement dated January 30, 2025.
In the statement, Congo described clubs’ deals with Rwanda as “blood-stained”.
The letter addressed to the English, German and French clubs raised concerns about human rights abuses, allegedly perpetrated by Rwandan forces.
The letter sent to the co-owners of English Premier League club, Arsenal, Stanley Kroenke & Josh Kroenke, said, “In the UK, Foreign Secretary David Lammy told President Kagame of Rwanda that ‘Rwanda must act to de-escalate this conflict’ and its ‘attack on Goma would provoke a strong response from the international community.
“His words should also provoke Arsenal to think again about whether its association with Rwanda is doing more harm than good.
“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.”
In the letter, the Congolese minister questioned the morality of the London-based club including that of players and managers.
She said, “We question the morality of your club, your players and your supporters as to why you are continuing your financial relationship with ‘Visit 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 (DRC).
“This conflict has a long history but over the past few months, Rwanda’s culpability for it has become incontrovertible.
“Areport by a UN Group of Experts has shown that at least 4,000 Rwandan troops are actively supporting the M23 rebel group in its military campaign in North Kivu.
“The Rwandan Defence Forces have disregarded a ceasefire I agreed with my Rwandan counterpart to bomb homes and hospitals in Goma.”
In the statement, Rwanda was accused of trying to annex parts of Congo for mineral gains.
“You are probably not aware that Rwanda ultimately seeks to annex a large part of the Eastern Congo for access to our minerals for its own economic gain,” she said.
“While Arsenal played its final match of the first phase of this year’s UEFA Champions League 500,000 more people became displaced in the eastern DRC.”
The statement highlighted that thousands of people are trapped in the city of Goma in Congo, facing restricted access to food, water, and security, with rape being a prevalent issue.
She said, “Thousands are currently trapped in the city of Goma with restricted access to food, water, and security. Countless lives have been lost; rape, murder and theft prevail. Your sponsor is directly responsible for this misery.
“Millions of tons of minerals critical to the energy transition-copper, cobalt, lithium, as well as gold – have been mined illicitly in the territory occupied by Rwandan-backed forces, transported across the border, and exported from Rwanda.
“The DRC has recently launched legal proceedings against Apple over the blood minerals we believe are in its supply chain. How certain are you that blood mineral cash is not being used to fund your sponsorship deal?”
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According to the United Nations, more than 700 people have been killed in fighting in the DR Congo this week.
The Congolese health ministry said on Saturday there were 773 bodies in hospital morgues in and around Goma following a recent offensive by rebels who seized the eastern city.
More bodies were lying in the street after morgues in the area exceeded their capacity, the ministry added.
The UN shared similar figures and added that around 2,800 people are thought to have been injured in the Goma area between January 26 and 30.
