Arsenal have been accused of being ‘directly responsible’ for the ‘misery’ of the DR Congo war due to their Visit Rwanda sponsorship deal.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s foreign minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, has written to European giants Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich to call for them to end their Visit Rwanda sponsorship deals.
She has accused the clubs of being “directly responsible” for the misery of the DR Congo war.
According to The Telegraph, the DRC have claimed that nearly 500,000 people have been dispatched in the eastern part of the country, with 4000 Rwandan troops active in the area along with Rwanda-backed rebel group, M23.
Letter To Gunners’ Owners
In her letter to the Gunners’ owners Stan Kroenke and son Josh, Wagner wrote: “Thousands are currently trapped in the city of Goma with restricted access to food, water, and security.
“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 for the victims of Rwandan aggression.
“I write to question the morality of your club, your supporters and your players, as to why you are continuing your relationship with ‘Visit Rwanda’.
“While Arsenal played its final match of the first phase of this year’s UEFA Champions League [last week] 500,000 more people became displaced in the eastern DRC.”
Visit Rwanda first appeared on Arsenal shirts in 2018, but the deal was restructured in 2021 and is now worth £10 million ($12.5m/€12m) per year to the north London side.
The club have maintained that the agreement is about promoting potential tourism, as opposed to supporting the country’s leadership, or any of their politics.
Also, the Rwandan government has been accused of multiple human rights abuses and Visit Rwanda is a governmental division.
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However, after thrashing Manchester City at home on Sunday in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s side will be back in action on Wednesday as they take on Newcastle United in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.
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