Former captain of DR Congo, Youssouf Mulumbu, has called on Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to reassess its sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda in light of the severe conflict and humanitarian crisis in his country.

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His plea comes amidst rising violence in eastern DR Congo, where the M23 rebels—reportedly supported by Rwanda—have taken control of key regions, including the vital city of Goma.

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According to the United Nations, approximately 700,000 people have been displaced by the conflict this year alone.

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In a conversation with BBC World Service, Mulumbu highlighted the profound impact of the crisis, describing it as a "financial war" driven by competition over DR Congo’s substantial mineral resources, especially tantalum, an essential element in smartphone manufacturing.

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"The situation is very, very hard and very painful, and all this conflict is based on finance," Mulumbu said.

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"It's not a religious or territory war. It's a financial war and people need to know that."

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The crisis has prompted DR Congo’s foreign minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, to urge PSG, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich to end their partnerships with Rwanda's tourism board, describing the deals as “blood-stained.”

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The former West Brom midfielder Mulumbu added, "I want to thank the minister, because she did very big work.

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"And all I know is that on a sponsorship, there is a financial part.

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"We are going to do our best to inform [about] this deal and what's behind it. I think it will be a big step if we can cancel this Visit Rwanda [partnership]."

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While Arsenal and PSG have yet to respond, Bayern Munich stated it is monitoring the situation and remains in contact with the German foreign ministry.

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