Kinshasa has urged Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris St-Germain to terminate their sponsorship deals with Rwanda. The call comes after M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Kigali, seized Goma, a key city in DR Congo’s eastern region. The development has led to the displacement of over 400,000 people this year, according to the UN’s refugee agency. DR Congo’s Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, questioned the morality of the partnerships, citing concerns that funds from the Visit Rwanda program could be linked to the illicit mining of “blood minerals” in conflict zones. She further stressed that Rwanda’s military involvement in the region makes its sponsorships ethically questionable, labeling them as “blood-stained.” Meanwhile, critics have argued that Rwanda’s sports affiliations, including the Visit Rwanda marketing campaign, help hide its abysmal human rights record.
Source: BBC