Congo Calls Out Rwanda’s “Blood-Stained” Sponsorships Amid Conflict. Image source : Financial Times
(The Post News)- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is calling on the NBA, Formula 1, and top football clubs—Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain—to end their multimillion-dollar sponsorships with Rwanda. The DRC accuses Rwanda of backing the rebel group M23, responsible for violence and displacement in eastern Congo.
In a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner questioned the league’s ethics, asking how its commitment to social justice aligns with ties to Rwanda. The NBA launched its Basketball Africa League in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, and signed a $6-7 million annual contract, featuring “Visit Rwanda” branding on team jerseys.
The DRC claims Rwanda supports M23 to control Congo’s valuable minerals, fueling conflict that has left over 700,000 people displaced. Wagner urged the NBA to reconsider its partnerships “in solidarity with the innocent victims of Rwandan aggression.”
The plea extends to Arsenal, Bayern Munich, PSG, and F1, accusing them of promoting a regime involved in human rights violations. Meanwhile, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame dismissed the accusations, arguing the DRC should “manage their own politics properly.”
With international pressure mounting and G7 nations condemning the violence, the spotlight is on whether these sports giants will sever ties or continue business as usual.
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