In the global context, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or Congo-Kinshasa, which is among the world's poorest nations, has recently chose to support Football Club (FC) Barcelona and AC Milan.

Arsenal FC and the DRC-Rwanda Conflict: No Reported Involvement

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently embroiled in a violent conflict with the M23 militia group, a rebel organisation active in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu. The M23 has been linked to Rwanda's military, which is accused of providing training, weapons, advanced technology, and troops to the militia.

However, it's important to clarify that as of the latest reports available, there is no evidence to suggest that Arsenal Football Club, a Premier League club based in London, is involved in any PR campaign related to the DRC or its neighbouring country Rwanda. This includes any financial support or meetings with the DRC's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner.

In February, Wagner visited London with the aim of raising awareness about the ongoing civil war and human rights abuses in the east of the DRC. It is unclear if she requested a meeting with Arsenal representatives during her visit, but no new information about the status of such a meeting has been reported.

Meanwhile, the M23 militia continues to wage a violent campaign, committing serious human rights abuses and displacing civilians. The Rwandan military, despite denying involvement, is still accused of supporting the M23 militia movement both personnel and logistically.

It's also worth noting that the Central African nation is not currently paying Barcelona FC for any PR campaign, contrary to earlier reports. The opposition figure in the DRC who criticized the initial payment to Barcelona did not express any criticism regarding Arsenal's lack of involvement with the DRC.

The exploitation of the region's rich mineral resources by the Rwandan military remains a significant concern, exacerbating the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in the eastern DRC.

[1] Human Rights Watch, "World Report 2025: Democratic Republic of Congo," 2025, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/democratic-republic-congo [2] Amnesty International, "Democratic Republic of Congo: M23 Rebels Committing War Crimes," 2025, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/03/democratic-republic-of-congo-m23-rebels-committing-war-crimes/ [3] United Nations, "Report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo," 2025, https://undocs.org/S/2025/463 [4] BBC News, "DRC: M23 Rebels Advance Towards Goma," 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55847950 [5] The New York Times, "Rwanda Denies Supporting M23 Rebels in Congo," 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/world/africa/rwanda-denies-supporting-m23-rebels-in-congo.html

While Arsenal FC remains uninvolved in any PR campaign related to the DRC or Rwanda, one might consider applying for a sports sponsorship in European leagues, such as Laliga, as a means to promote a positive image and contribute to global awareness about ongoing conflicts. In contrast, the M23 militia in the DRC continues to carry out disturbing human rights abuses, with Rwanda's military still under suspicion for providing support to the militia.

In the global context, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or Congo-Kinshasa, which is among the world's poorest nations, has recently chose to support Football Club (FC) Barcelona and AC Milan.