The Democratic Republic of Congo's foreign minister has called on major soccer clubs to sever ties with Rwanda's tourism board, citing the worsening humanitarian situation in the country fueled by the conflict with M23 rebels.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s foreign minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner has urged soccer clubs Arsenal , Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain to terminate their sponsorship agreements with 'Visit Rwanda ' following the escalating humanitarian crisis in the country. The DR Congo health ministry reported on Saturday the presence of nearly 800 bodies in hospital morgues around Goma, the nation's largest city, in the wake of an offensive by Rwanda -backed M23 rebels.
This latest escalation has exacerbated a longstanding humanitarian crisis, displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians seeking refuge in Goma. The fighting between M23 and Congolese troops has led to widespread human rights violations, including summary executions, the bombing of displacement camps, reports of gang rape and other forms of sexual violence, according to the United Nations. Wagner addressed the three clubs this week, questioning the morality of their sponsorship deals in light of a U.N. report suggesting the presence of 4,000 Rwandan troops in DR Congo. 'Thousands are currently trapped in the city of Goma with restricted access to food, water, and security,' Wagner stated in letters to the clubs, as outlined in a Sunday media statement from her ministry. 'Countless lives have been lost; rape, murder and theft prevail. Your sponsor is directly responsible for this misery. If not for your own consciences, then the clubs should do it (end their sponsorship agreement) for the victims of Rwandan aggression.'Rwanda maintains it is acting in self-defense, accusing Congo's military of collaborating with ethnic Hutu-led militias intent on massacring Tutsis in Congo and threatening Rwanda. Rwanda cites the 1994 genocide, where Tutsis were targeted by Hutus, and the subsequent displacement of some Hutus to Congo. Congo denies these allegations and accuses Rwanda of using M23 to plunder valuable minerals from Congolese territory. 'Visit Rwanda' initiated its sponsorship of Arsenal in 2018, with the latest reported deal valued at over 10 million pounds ($12.39 million) annually. Bayern Munich signed a five-year football development and tourism promotion partnership with Rwanda in 2023, while 'Visit Rwanda' has been a sponsor of PSG since 2019. British foreign minister David Lammy addressed parliament on Tuesday, stating that Rwanda receives over $1 billion in global aid annually, including approximately 32 million pounds in bilateral UK assistance, but 'all of that is under threat when you attack your neighbours.'
DR Congo Rwanda M23 Sponsorship Arsenal Bayern Munich PSG Humanitarian Crisis Visit Rwanda
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