Youssouf Mulumbu protests PSG’s partnership with Visit Rwanda due to ongoing conflict in DR Congo, where M23 rebels have caused significant displacement and suffering. He emphasizes the humanitarian crisis and advocates for awareness, urging PSG to reconsider the ethical implications of their sponsorship. A petition has gathered substantial support, aiming to inform decision-makers of the urgent situation in his homeland.
Youssouf Mulumbu, a former captain of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), is urging Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to reconsider its sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis in his homeland. The conflict has seen M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, seize control of Goma, prompting widespread displacement and suffering among the local population. According to the UN, nearly 700,000 individuals have been forced from their homes this year alone, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Mulumbu remarked, “The situation is very, very hard and very painful, and all this conflict is based on finance. It is not a religious or territory war; it is a financial war and people need to know that.” He conveyed distressing accounts from Goma, where families are torn apart, and women face violence, stressing the urgent need for awareness.
The conflict’s impact is exacerbated by the control of vital mineral resources like tantalum, which are extracted from areas dominated by the M23. Mulumbu shared a personal tragedy involving a friend who lost his wife during their escape from the violence. He lamented the prolonged instability in DR Congo, stating, “It’s been 30 years that Congo has been living in this situation and all we want is peace.”
Calls for PSG to end the partnership have escalated, with DR Congo’s foreign minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner labeling the deal “blood stained”. Similar concerns have been raised with other clubs such as Arsenal and Bayern Munich regarding their relationships with Rwanda’s tourism board. The Rwandan government defended its partnerships, claiming they contribute positively to the nation.
Mulumbu, who began his career at PSG, is advocating for a petition to end the Visit Rwanda partnership. With 68,500 signatures collected, the petition aims to garner 100,000 supporters before he seeks a meeting with PSG’s president to address the underlying issues of the partnership. He emphasized the club’s need for awareness, stating, “I want to have a meeting, maybe with some people who can [make] a decision, and then we will inform them of this partnership and what’s going on in DR Congo.”
The call for Paris Saint-Germain to reconsider its partnership with Visit Rwanda highlights the ethical implications surrounding sports sponsorships amidst humanitarian crises. Youssouf Mulumbu’s advocacy sheds light on the critical situation in DR Congo, where the ongoing conflict has devastated lives and communities. Through petitions and awareness campaigns, Mulumbu aims to instigate change and inform decision-makers of the repercussions of such sponsorships.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
