The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have criticised European football giants Arsenal, Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich for their Visit Rwanda sponsorship deals in view of the horrors of the conflict in the east of the country.
DRC which accused Rwanda of backing M23 rebels in their capture of Goma, the capital of North Kivu called on the three clubs to end their link with Rwanda over the deal.
Critics have dismissed the deals as ‘sportswashing”, a term used to describe efforts by entities including governments tainted by wrongdoing to improve their image or reputation by publicity through sport.
The government of President Paul Kagame has been heavily criticised for rights violations and involvement in the conflict in neighbouring DRC which described the Visit Rwanda sponsorship deals with the three clubs as tainted with the blood of tens of thousands of victims of the violence in exchange for ”blood minerals”.
The three European football clubs have not responded to letters by DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner calling on them to turn their backs on the controversial deals.
The letters questioned the morality of the deals which Ms Wagner said are funded by illegal proceeds the mining of ”blood minerals” from the restive east of her country where Rwanda maintains a belligerent troop presence.
She accused Rwanda of playing an active role in exporting the minerals, thus establishing the country’s ”culpability”.
According to the UN, Rwandan troop presence in eastern DRC is at least 4000 strong.
Visit Rwanda’s first deal was announced with the English top tier club Arsenal in May 2018 worth £10 million. This was extended to another four years three years later.
Its deal with PSG worth €8-10 million per year deal followed in 2019 and was supposed to last for three years. It was subsequently extended to 2025. In August 2023, German giants Bayern Munich entered into a five year partnership deal with Visit Rwanda which also had a partnership with the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Under these deals the Visit Rwanda logo appeared on the playing jerseys or training kits of the teams fielded by the clubs.
The government has described the effect of the Visit Rwanda initiative as being of ”a very positive effect on Rwanda’s economy as it attracted more tourists to the country given the popularity which teams like Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich generate worldwide.
President Kagame is an ardent Arsenal fan.
WN/as/APA