
Barcelona agree sponsorship deal with DR Congo to promote tourism
The contract with Barcelona is dated June 29 and stipulates that a logo branding the war-hit Central African country as the "heart of Africa" will appear on the backs of training and warm-up jerseys for the men's and women's teams.
The logo will also appear in advertising for the club and in the club magazine and annual report, the contract says.
Congo will pay the club between 10 million and 11.5 million euros annually over the next four seasons, it says.
Details of the deal between Congo and Barcelona have not been announced.
AS Monaco and AC Milan last month also announced sponsorship deals with Congo without disclosing the amounts.
Congolese sports minister Didier Budimbu told Reuters the contract with AS Monaco is worth 1.6 million euros per season. He did not disclose the amounts for the contracts with AC Milan and Barcelona.
A Congolese government source said the contract with AC Milan was worth 14 million euros per season.
Announcing the AC Milan deal on June 20, Congolese tourism minister Didier M'Pambia said it was part of a government strategy "to reposition the DRC on the international stage as an undisputed leader on the African continent" by promoting tourism and investment opportunities.
Congo's tourism ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday, while Barcelona told Reuters they had no comment at this time.
In February Congo's foreign minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner urged football clubs Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain to end their "blood-stained" sponsorship agreements with "Visit Rwanda".
The appeal came less than a week after M23 rebels seized eastern Congo's biggest city, Goma as part of a lightning advance.
Rwanda denies backing M23, saying it is defending itself.
A report by a group of United Nations experts obtained by Reuters this month said Kigali exercised command and control over the rebels during their advance, gaining political influence and access to mineral-rich territory.
($1 = 0.8626 euros)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
25 minutes ago
- Reuters
Small Ivory Coast cocoa firms say EU deforestation rules might bankrupt them
ABIDJAN, July 24 (Reuters) - Small players in Ivory Coast's cocoa industry say they fear they will go out of business due to the cost of complying with new European Union regulations on the import of commodities linked to deforestation. The proposed law, which aims to end the estimated 10% of global deforestation fuelled by EU consumption, requires companies importing goods such as cocoa, soy, beef and coffee to prove their supply chains do not contribute to the destruction of the world's forests, or face hefty fines. In order to meet the regulations, Ivory Coast has opted for a digitalised sales and purchasing system to facilitate verification. However, cooperatives and small local exporters are concerned they will not be able to compete with Western multinational companies, which have better financial and human resources to handle the additional cost and workload. Two sources at Ivory Coast's Coffee and Cocoa Council regulator said around 900,000 out of 1 million cocoa farmers had already received their digital ID cards, which will also serve as bank cards. Under the new system, farmers will be paid via mobile money operators by exporters after buyers or cooperatives deliver their beans to ports - effectively cutting out the usual cash payments to middlemen. "With this card, the traceability of Ivorian cocoa is 100% guaranteed," one of the sources told Reuters, adding that all the data on farmers will be stored online. The second source said the new system, which was tested on a sample of producers, cooperatives and exporters, would be rolled out and become mandatory from October 1. The EU has delayed the launch of the law by a year, to December 2025, following complaints from trading partners, and cut back on reporting rules after industry criticism. "Compliance with the regulation requires investments that we cannot make," said the director of an Ivorian trading company who fears it could go bankrupt. The president of a cocoa export cooperative said multinationals planned to spend at least 200 CFA francs ($0.3604) per kilogram to comply with this regulation - a cost cooperatives are unable to bear. Cocoa players say the new rules might kill off vulnerable cooperatives or local exporters if Ivory Coast's government doesn't step in to protect them. "We are not opposed to traceability and sustainability. What we are criticizing is that the EU only protects its own industry and citizens, not those of other countries, and this regulation will kill local businesses," the director of an Ivorian export company told Reuters. "If we don't get help from the government, there won't be any cooperatives or local exporters left in two years," the director of another cocoa cooperative said. "We'll all disappear." The company leaders all declined to be identified to avoid the possibility of pressure or threats to their businesses. ($1 = 555.0000 CFA francs)


Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Marcus Rashford is a brilliant signing but Man Utd star needs to earn his spot, says Barcelona legend
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MARCUS RASHFORD has been backed to do 'something big' at Barcelona - by none other than the legendary Rivaldo. The England forward, 27, secured his 'dream' move when the Catalan giants confirmed he had joined season-long loan with a £26m buy option from Manchester United. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Rashford will wear the iconic number 14 jersey that Thierry Henry wore at the club Credit: Reuters 4 Barcelona fans have given Rashford an iconic welcome Credit: @mikinoelle 4 The England star is eyeing a revival that will see him play at next year's World Cup 4 Rivaldo is a Brazil and Barcelona legend Credit: Getty And Brazilian Rivaldo, one of the greatest to ever grace the Nou Camp pitch, believes it's a 'brilliant signing' - though he warned it might take him a while to hit top gear under Hansi Flick. The Ballon d'Or winner, who fired the Samba Boys to World Cup glory in 2002, told Betfair: 'He's got everything it takes to shine, especially with the top manager he'll have by his side, that will really help with his development. 'On top of that, with the quality of Barca's squad, the environment is ideal. Being in a different league to the Premier League, he'll have more opportunities, more chances to showcase his football and do something big there. 'He's a fantastic player, no doubt about it and I think he'll make a real impact. Definitely a brilliant signing.' Rashford's Old Trafford future was deemed practically over when the club handed his No10 shirt to new signing Matheus Cunha. And he had been looking for a new home after falling out with Ruben Amorim leading to him spending the second half of last term at Aston Villa and being forced to train away from the first-team at Carrington. Rivaldo said: 'When a player leaves a club in a tough situation, like he did, and joins a team like Barcelona. "It's only natural that the coach will use training sessions and the first few matches to get a better look at him. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 'Barcelona had a great season last year, so it's normal for him to start off on the bench. "Little by little, he'll find his rhythm, start to understand how the manager wants the team to play, get used to the training routines, and gradually settle in. Over time, he'll earn his spot. Barcelona fans welcome Rashford with incredible mural 'He's a hugely talented player — he's already proven that in one of the toughest leagues in the world. He's also an international. So, I fully expect him to earn a place in Barca's starting XI and re-establish himself as a regular in the England squad too.'


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Inside Marcus Rashford's five-star welcome to Barcelona: Man United exile given VIP treatment at £156-per-head restaurant visited by Barack Obama and Steven Spielberg
Marcus Rashford celebrated his loan move to Barcelona by dining out with the club's president Joan Laporta and other members of the board at one of the city's most exclusive restaurants on Wednesday night. The 27-year-old forward, who has been pursuing an escape from Manchester United since his six-month loan spell at Aston Villa came to an end earlier this summer, finally got his wish by teaming up with LaLiga giants Barcelona on Monday. The loan agreement also allows Barcelona to sign Rashford on a permanent deal next summer for a fee in the region of £30million. Given a five-star welcome by the Catalan giants, Rashford was wined and dined at exclusive £156-per-head Amar restaurant in Barcelona, with 18 people attending the dinner. Rock icon Bruce Springsteen, former USA president Barack Obama and esteemed film director Steven Spielberg are among the famous faces to have dined at the luxury brasserie. Dishes of tuna belly, prawns, crab cannelloni and 'mongetes' from Santa Pau were served to the table, with Rashford and Co offered an opportunity to sample a variety of delicacies. The group, according to Spanish outlet El Periodico, completed the feast with wagyu meat and Galician blonde, before having the restaurant's famous cheesecake for dessert. After the meal, Rashford and Laporta posed for a photograph with the chefs, waiting staff and sommeliers, both beaming at their excitement over the new chapter. Speaking at his unveiling as a Barcelona player, Rashford expressed his delight at signing for the Spanish giants and said it will be a 'joy' to play for the club. 'I am very excited, I think it's a club where people's dreams come true,' Rashford said. 'What the club stands for means a lot to me as well and it feels like I'm at home, and this is a big factor in my choice. It's a family club people are comfortable here and it's a good place for people to show their skills. 'I try to make decisive actions and fast dynamic plays and I always like good football so I've always been a fan of watching Barcelona from a young age. 'It's going to be a joy for me to play here and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it.' 'I am definitely full of excitement and hunger to go out and try an help the team win. It's all smiles for Rashford at the Nou Camp - both at his unveiling and during training sessions It marks a drastic change from his last few months at Manchester United, where he has been placed in Ruben Amorim's five-man bomb squad following a loan spell at Aston Villa 'They won so much last year and I can see the ambition is to do better than last year. 'As a player that's what you want to hear, it keeps you improving year on year and that's what you need to be the best version of yourself.' Rashford added that he had 'very positive' talks with Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, who he described as one of the games' 'top coaches'. The Manchester United exile, who had been placed alongside fellow outcasts Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho in Ruben Amorim's five-man summer bomb squad, looked like a man reborn after touching down in Spain to complete his move. Rashford, set to wear No 14 at the Nou Camp, was pictured grinning in training alongside Spanish superstar Lamine Yamal - and several fans even claimed he had enjoyed a 'glow-up' after being pictured at his unveiling. Rashford is understood to have taken 15 per cent pay cut from his £315,000-a-week Man United wage to join Barcelona. During his successful loan stint at Aston Villa, he scored three goals and contributed four assists across all competitions as Unai Emery 's side reached the Champions League quarter-finals.