A petition calling on top executives at Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain to end their "Visit Rwanda" sponsorship deal with Rwanda's development board on Sunday passed the 66,000 mark.
Launched on 27 January as fighting between Rwandan-backed M23 forces and government troops intensified in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the petition claimed the deal to promote tourism in Rwanda was no longer compatible with the club's stance on human rights and peace.
"As an iconic and internationally respected club, PSG has an important role to play in promoting positive values," the petition said. "However, by maintaining this partnership with "Visit Rwanda", our club could be perceived as ignoring the geopolitical and humanitarian realities of this situation, and risk giving the impression that it is turning a blind eye to human rights violations.
"We therefore call on Paris Saint-Germain to immediately end its partnership with "Visit Rwanda", in order not to support the actions of the Rwandan government in the DRC."
Petition organisers said they wanted PSG to take a public stance against the violence and human rights violations committed in the African Great Lakes region, particularly in the DRC. They also wanted club supremos to help the victims of conflict, particularly in the DRC, to demonstrate their commitment to peace and justice.
Last Sunday, the DRC's minister of foreign affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, called on PSG's bosses as well as their counterparts at English Premier League outfit Arsenal and the Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich to review their sponsorship deals with Rwanda.
"At a time when Rwanda is waging war, Rwanda's guilt in this conflict has become indisputable," wrote Kayikwamba Wagner. "Your sponsor is directly responsible for this misery."
PSG signed its initial contract wih the Rwanda Development Board in 2019. In May 2023, the partnership was renewed for another three years.
Under the deals, team players and former stars travelled to Rwanda and the logo "Visit Rwanda" appeared on the training and warm-up kits of the men's teams. Rwandan tea and coffee were also served at kiosks and in the suites at the Parc des Princes.
Cynthia Marcou, PSG's sponsorship director at the time, said: "In working with "Visit Rwanda", PSG has taken sponsorship to the next level in terms of standards and synergy. Together we have developed extremely creative activatons in which our players abd ambassadors regularly take part.
"Such events enhance the image of Rwanda, a forward looking country and raise the profile of Rwanda tourism, allowing it to position itself as a global leader."
Petition
But as the conflict worsened in the DRC, Jordan Madiande, a PSG supporter from the DRC, told RFI he could no longer condone the club's approach.
"It's the exact opposite of what my club stands for," he added. "PSG can't say they're not aware. There's a conflict going on. We have to take a stand and we need more ethical partnerships for football clubs.
"It is time to call a halt to this partnership," he added. "I didn't think the petition would take off so quickly. We're surprised, but very pleasantly surprised. Fifty-thousand signatures was significant. It's the capacity of the Parc des Princes That would make it possible to say: 'Well, we're filling the Parc des Princes with people who are against this partnership."
PSG have not responded officially to the petition nor Kayikwamba Wagner's letter.
Kévin Veyssière, founder of the site FC Geopolitics, told RFI: "The petition can be a way of putting pressure on the club but for the time being, I think these partnerships will continue.
"The clubs aren't going to take a political stance on this conflict and they will only really do so if a political or diplomatic decision is taken."
Arsenal began a sleeve partnership with "Visit Rwanda" in 2018. Bayern Munich, who lead the Bundesliga by eight points following a 3-0 win over Werder Bremen on Friday night, signed their five-year football development and tourism promotion partnership in 2023.
