Rwanda claims that regional peace is threatened by DRC criticism of Arsenal, Bayern, and PSG deals

Rwanda said Thursday that the foreign minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s recent criticism of its sponsorship agreements with Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris St. Germain posed a threat to regional peace and stability.

The three clubs were encouraged to terminate their “blood-stained” sponsorship deals with “Visit Rwanda” earlier this month by DRC’s foreign minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, who questioned the ethics of such collaborations while the conflict raging in eastern Congo.

In recent weeks, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have taken control of important areas of eastern Congo in what is the most severe escalation in over ten years of a protracted conflict stemming from the 1994 Rwandan genocide spilling into Congo and the fight for control of Congo’s abundant natural riches.

“The Government of Rwanda rejects recent attempts by the Democratic Republic of Congo to undermine Rwanda’s international partnerships through misinformation and political pressure,” in a statement released Thursday by the Rwanda Development Board, which is in charge of the agreements.

“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.”

A WhatsApp request for comment was not immediately answered by Congo’s foreign affairs ministry.

According to the UN, the conflict in eastern Congo has resulted in reports of gang rape and other forms of sexual violence, summary executions, and bombings of camps for displaced people.

Accusing Congo’s military of collaborating with ethnic Hutu-led militias determined to massacre Tutsis in Congo and endanger Rwanda, where Hutus targeted Tutsis in a 1994 genocide and some of them later fled to Congo, Rwanda claims it is defending itself.

In 2018, “Visit Rwanda” started sponsoring Arsenal; the most recent agreement is reportedly valued at over 10 million pounds ($12 million) annually.

“Visit Rwanda” has sponsored PSG since 2019, and Bayern Munich and Rwanda inked a five-year football development and tourism promotion collaboration in 2023.

None of the three clubs responded when Reuters first contacted them over the sponsorship agreements.