What they said

Tourism Minister Didier M'Pambia said the sponsorships are part of a government strategy to present the DRC as “an undisputed leader on the African continent.” However, the deal has drawn criticism from some of the clubs’ fan groups, who question Congo’s human rights record, Semafor Africa reports. Football analysts suggest that Barcelona’s own financial pressures, amid rising player wages and transfer fees, may have motivated the agreement. DRC officials and Barcelona have so far declined to provide further comment. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Congo’s foreign minister had publicly urged European clubs like Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain to end their “blood-stained” partnerships with Rwanda, accusing Kigali of backing rebel violence in eastern Congo.