Rwanda is courting European football clubs to maintain sponsorship deals as the Democratic Republic of Congo steps up pressure on the associations to sever ties, accusing its neighbor of destabilizing its mineral-rich eastern region.

Earlier this month, Congo asked Arsenal FC, Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern Munich to terminate the “Visit Rwanda” tourism campaign and ditch the “blood-stained” sponsorship, according to a letter by the nation’s Foreign Affairs Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner to the three clubs.

Despite Congo’s push, relations between Rwanda and the European clubs remain intact, according to Sports Minister Nelly Mukazayire. While the fighting in eastern Congo has been discussed in recent conversations, the conflict hasn’t been the sole focus of the partnership talks, she said.

“As of today, Rwanda doesn’t have any problem with its partners and its partnerships,” Mukazayire said in an interview in Kigali, the capital, on Thursday. “Rwanda remains focused on the commitment to these partnerships and their impact.”

The M23 rebels have captured key cities and now control all of eastern Congo’s border with Rwanda along Lake Kivu. The US, UK and the UN say that the group is backed and supported by Rwanda. The UK this week joined Belgium in suspending most financial aid to Rwanda.

President Paul Kagame has denied giving military support to M23.

Bid for F1 Race

The East African nation plans to expand sponsorships into tennis and motorsports. In December, it hosted the Formula One awards ceremony where Kagame announced Rwanda would bid to hold the first F1 race on the continent in more than three decades.

Rwanda has also hosted the Basketball Africa League, a joint venture between the NBA and the International Basketball Federation, the global governing body.

At the weekend, “Rwanda launched Tour du Rwanda, the president of Union Cycliste Internationale was present and that was also a statement that Rwanda’s partners continue focusing on the shared vision,” the minister said.

The Rwanda Development Board originally partnered with Arsenal in 2018 as the London club’s official sleeve sponsor. Similar deals with PSG and Bayern Munich soon followed. Rwanda signed the most recent deal with Arsenal in 2021 for about £40 million ($50.3 million), according to SportsPro.

The deals have boosted tourism and also seen club players participate in coaching sessions in the small African country. The sponsorships have “tremendously impacted national branding and tourism in Rwanda,” said Mukazayire. “Tourism revenues have grown because of the Visit Rwanda brand due to media coverage and visibility.”