Latest news with #VisitRwanda
Business Insider
18 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
FC Barcelona seals deal as DR Congo's third international sports tourism sponsor
As part of the deal, all of Barça's professional teams will wear the emblem 'R.D. Congo — Cœur d'Afrique' on the back of their training kits from the 2024/25 season through to 2028/29. The DRC will also be designated as the 'Official Empowerment Partner for Sports and Culture,' reflecting a shared vision to promote athletic development and cultural exchange. In addition, the Spotify Camp Nou will host the 'House of the DRC,' a dedicated space that will showcase Congolese culture and serve as a hub for engagement, creativity, and visibility at one of the world's most iconic football venues. ' This agreement signifies a shared commitment to fostering multi-sport development within the DRC,' the club said in an official statement. ' The collaboration will contribute to enriching the training of the country's young athletes by transferring its ecosystem of values, an indisputable pillar of the Barça model and style.' The sponsorship deal worth more than 40 million euros ($46.37 million) was earlier reported by Business Insider Africa in June, highlighting the DRC's broader strategy to use sports diplomacy as a tool to strengthen its global image and attract foreign investment. With this latest agreement, the DRC continues to position itself at the intersection of sports, culture, and international diplomacy, leveraging football's global reach to promote a renewed image of the country as youthful, ambitious, and open to the world. Barcelona-DRC deal mirrors Rwanda's tourism play with Arsenal, PSG FC Barcelona's newly announced four-year strategic partnership with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reflects a growing trend among African nations leveraging elite global football platforms to enhance national branding and soft power. Similar to Rwanda's high-profile ' Visit Rwanda' campaigns with Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain which placed the East African country's tourism brand prominently on the kits of top European clubs, the DRC's new 'Cœur d'Afrique' (Heart of Africa) emblem will appear on Barça's training shirts over the next four seasons. However, these types of sponsorships have not been without controversy. In both Rwanda and the DRC, critics have raised concerns that such high-visibility international partnerships are being pursued at the expense of more urgent domestic priorities. In Rwanda's case, the government's ties to elite football clubs have drawn mounting criticism amid ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. Earlier this year, Congo's Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, called on Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain to end what she described as ' blood-stained' sponsorships with 'Visit Rwanda,' citing the country's alleged involvement in fueling regional instability. Now, similar scrutiny is being directed at the DRC itself. The government's deal with FC Barcelona has sparked backlash from opposition voices and civil society groups, who argue that Kinshasa is failing to address the country's long-running crises including insecurity, displacement, and poverty, while investing in global image-building initiatives. Critics say that, just as the DRC accused Rwanda of using football sponsorships to deflect attention from conflict, the Congolese government risks doing the same by prioritizing international branding over concrete solutions to a decade-long humanitarian emergency. Still, the partnership with Barcelona reveals a strategic ambition: to project a modern, culturally rich, and youthful image of the DRC to the world.
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Barcelona agree sponsorship deal with DR Congo to promote tourism
DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo has agreed to pay more than 40 million euros ($46.37 million) in a sponsorship deal with Spanish soccer club Barcelona that would see a logo promoting tourism appear on some team apparel, according to a contract seen on Thursday by Reuters. 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) -REUTERS
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
DR Congo Signs €40M Tourism Deal with FC Barcelona
DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo has agreed to pay more than 40 million euros ($46.37 million) in a sponsorship deal with Spanish soccer club Barcelona that would see a logo promoting tourism appear on some team apparel, according to a contract seen on Thursday by Reuters. 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) -REUTERS
The Star
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Soccer-Barcelona agree sponsorship deal with DR Congo tourism ministry
KINSHASA (Reuters) -Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to pay more than 40 million euros ($46.37 million) in a sponsorship deal with Spanish soccer club Barcelona that would see a logo promoting tourism appear on some team apparel, according to a contract seen on Thursday by Reuters. 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. 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 exercisedcommand and control over the rebels during their advance, gaining political influence and access to mineral-rich territory. ($1 = 0.8626 euros) (Reporting by Stanis Bujakera; Writing by Robbie Corey-BouletEditing by Toby Davis)
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ruiz and Hakimi on target as PSG muzzle Arsenal to reach Champions League final
Ruiz and Hakimi on target as PSG muzzle Arsenal to reach Champions League final Achraf Hakimi (left) and Fabian Ruiz (right) scored Paris Saint-Germain's goals in the 2-1 win over Arsenal that took the side into the final of the Champions League. Paris Saint-Germain moved into the 2025 Champions League final against Inter Milan following a 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Wednesday night. Leading 1-0 from the first leg in north London on 29 April, PSG extended their aggregate advantage to 2-0 after 27 minutes of the second leg at the Parc des Princes. Spain international Fabian Ruiz thrashed home from the edge of the penalty area to calm the nerves of the hosts. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Midway through the second-half Vitinha fluffed a penalty that would have given PSG a 3-0 aggregate lead. But minutes after his weak kick, substitute Ousmane Dembélé set up Achraf Hakimi for the strike that brought an explosion of joy from the PSG faithful. As the home fans sang about their impending excursion to the final in Munich on 31 May, Mikel Merino outmuscled PSG skipper Marquinhos on the left wing and drove towards the PSG penalty area. His cross was deflected into the path of Bukayo Saka who rounded the PSG goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma to halve the deficit on the night after 76 minutes. Arsenal pushed for the goals to force extra-time but PSG held firm to seal a 3-1 aggregate success and second trip to the final in five years. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement 'I said from the first day that our goal was to work hard enough to be in a position to make history and that remains our goal,' said PSG boss Luis Enrique. Progress 'We believe in our coach and we believe in our talented, young, hungry players," PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi told CBS Sports. "PSG have gone through and we're absolutely gutted but this doesn't define us for sure.' Read more on RFI English Read also: PSG signs new Visit Rwanda deal despite backlash over DRC links PSG boss Enrique hails side's progress since Champions League upset at Arsenal Champions League: Lille fluff their lines as Villa set up PSG clash
