The Congolese government has called for Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain to sever their partnerships, accusing the Rwandan government of using sports as a tool for "sportswashing" amid ongoing tensions in eastern DR Congo.
Congo's Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, recently wrote to the clubs, questioning the morality of their deals with Rwanda, alleging the sponsorship is funded by illicit mining from conflict zones in eastern DR Congo.
However, during an exclusive interview with CNN, President Kagame firmly rejected the accusations, terming the Congolese government's campaign a "wasted effort."
The Head of State suggested that the Congolese government's focus should be on managing internal issues and solving the country's political problems.
President Kagame maintained that Rwanda is not directly involved in arming or supporting the M23 rebels.
He pointed out that much of the "sophisticated equipment" used by M23 in the recent fighting, which led to the capture of Goma City, came from the Congolese army, which had been defeated and pursued by the rebels.
During the interview, President Kagame expressed frustration with President Félix Tshisekedi's absence from diplomatic engagements aimed at addressing the conflict, especially after he skipped a Heads of State extraordinary summit that brought together Heads of State from the East African Community (EAC) to deliberate on the security situation in eastern Congo.
"When you have a problem, you must look for the cause. The one with the problem must seek a solution," Kagame emphasized.
President Kagame has often accused the Congolese administration of ignoring the root causes of the conflict in the eastern region and prioritizing military solutions over a political resolution, which can be achieved through dialogue with the M23 group fighting for the interests of the Congolese Rwandophones, particularly the Tutsi community.
Speaking in a separate interview with Al Jazeera, Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe dismissed the narrative of Rwanda exploiting minerals in Congo as a distraction from the more profound issues of ethnic persecution and governance failures.
"This narrative of minerals as the root cause of this conflict is really a lazy and unacceptable narrative," he remarked, stressing that the conflict's core lies in the protection and rights of communities.
The Visit Rwanda campaign, launched in 2018, has helped raise the country's global profile, with significant partnerships with high-profile football clubs, which have boosted Rwanda's tourism sector and foreign investments.
Rwanda has repeatedly dismissed sportswashing claims, with the country's Chief Tourism Officer, Irene Murerwa, calling such claims a "distraction" from Rwanda's achievements.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
