The Democratic Republic of Congo’s foreign minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner has urged soccer clubs Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain to end their “blood-stained” sponsorship agreements with “Visit Rwanda” following the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country.

The DR Congo health ministry said on Saturday there were almost 800 bodies in hospital morgues around Goma following the offensive by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels to seize east Congo’s largest city, home to lucrative gold, coltan and tin mines.

Democratic Republic of the Congo’s foreign minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., January 28, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

The latest escalation has worsened a long-standing humanitarian crisis that has driven hundreds of thousands to seek shelter in Goma after fleeing fighting between M23 and Congolese troops.

The fighting has led to human rights violations including summary executions, the bombing of displacement camps, reports of gang rape and other sexual violence, according to the United Nations.

Wagner wrote to the three clubs this week and questioned the morality of their sponsorship deals, citing a U.N. report that suggested there were 4,000 Rwandan troops active in DR Congo.

“Thousands are currently trapped in the city of Goma with restricted access to food, water, and security,” Wagner said in her letters to the clubs, according to a media statement from her ministry on Sunday.

“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 says it is defending itself, accusing Congo’s military of joining forces with ethnic Hutu-led militias bent on slaughtering Tutsis in Congo and threatening Rwanda, where Hutus targeted Tutsis in a 1994 genocide and some later fled to Congo.

Congo denies this and accuses Rwanda of using M23 to pillage valuable minerals from Congolese territory.

“Visit Rwanda” began their sponsorship of Arsenal in 2018, with the latest deal reported to be worth more than 10 million pounds ($12.39 million) per year.

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.

Reuters has contacted the three clubs and “Visit Rwanda” for comment.

British foreign minister David Lammy told parliament on Tuesday Rwanda received over $1 billion in global aid every year, including around 32 million pounds of bilateral UK assistance, but “all of that is under threat when you attack your neighbours.”

-Reuters

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More countries are putting their weight behind Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara as Belgium becomes the latest to do so.

The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Quintin has remarked that  “Belgium deems the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, presented in 2007, to be a serious and credible effort by Morocco and a very good basis for a solution accepted by all parties.”

The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs who is also in charge of  European Affairs, Foreign Trade and Cultural Institutions made the remarks during a press briefing following his talks with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita. 

The Belgian minister said that his meeting with his Moroccan counterpart “helped me understand the ins and outs of the autonomy plan and realize the existential nature of this issue for Morocco.”

He further remarked that  “we know how important of an issue this is for Morocco”.

Continuing, he said: “Some prominent European and international partners have changed their position”, he said, noting that Morocco and Belgium “will continue to engage constructively on this subject.”

Belgium “fully supports the UN process for a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution” and “recalls the UN’s exclusive role in the political process,” Quintin said.

He also reiterated Belgium’s backing for “UN Security Council Resolution 2703, which underscores the role and responsibility of the parties in seeking a realistic, pragmatic, and enduring political solution based on compromise”.

Belgium’s constructive stance aligns with the international momentum driven by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, in support of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara and the Autonomy Plan.

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United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio has commended Morocco’s role in advancing regional and global peace and unity. This is the aftermath of the conversation Rubio had with the Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.

According to a press release from the US Department of State,  the Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed the strong U.S.-Morocco partnership in advancing regional and global peace and security, under King Mohamed VI’s leadership. 

They discussed the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the release of the hostages, and Morocco’s leadership in contributing humanitarian aid for Gaza. 

They committed to cooperate intensively in advancing shared interests in the region and ending conflicts, including building on the Abraham Accords. 

The Secretary and Foreign Minister affirmed the importance of expanding trade, investment, and commercial cooperation that would benefit Americans and Moroccans.