Montreal, April 1, 2025 – The Rwandan Opposition Platform P4, a coalition of political parties opposing the Kigali regime, has issued a call to international sports clubs to withdraw from the “Visit Rwanda” advertising campaign. The platform is urging these institutions to show solidarity with victims of what it describes as Rwanda’s authoritarian and militaristic rule in the Great Lakes region.
In a statement signed by Dr. Emmanuel Hakizimana, coordinator of the P4 coalition, the opposition accuses the Rwandan government of serious human rights abuses both within its borders and in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The platform specifically condemns the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) and their M23 allies for alleged war crimes committed in eastern Congo. These accusations stand in stark contrast to the image of peace, tourism, and modernity projected by the Rwandan government through its high-profile “Visit Rwanda” sponsorship deals with elite sports organizations such as Arsenal, Paris-Saint Germain, and Bayern Munich.
According to P4, these partnerships are not simply about tourism promotion, but part of a calculated effort to whitewash the regime’s reputation. “Kigali’s government signs these sponsorship deals while spreading death and devastation in the Great Lakes region,” the statement reads.
The platform highlights the gravity of the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, asserting that in just the first two months of 2025, the joint operations of RDF and M23 in the city of Goma alone resulted in over 7,000 deaths, including UN peacekeepers. The statement cites reports of mass executions of children, rape, mutilation, and attacks on schools and hospitals—atrocities described as being of “rare cruelty.” These claims echo those raised during the UN Security Council session held on March 27, 2025, during which several countries demanded the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory.
Given this context, P4 is calling on football clubs and their fan bases to reconsider their involvement in Rwanda’s global promotional campaigns. It urges them to stand by the values of their communities and governments—many of which have already sanctioned the Rwandan regime—and to terminate their partnerships with Kigali.
“This would be a noble gesture of compassion and solidarity with the people of the Great Lakes, who are enduring one of the darkest periods of their recent history,” the statement concludes.
Therwandan
