ARSENAL have been told to stop taking money from the Rwandan ‘dictatorship’ government by the daughter of Hotel Rwanda hero Paul Rusesabagina.
The Gunners have a four-year, £10million-a-year shirt sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda and Carine Kanimba has called on the North Londoners to bin the agreement after her father’s ‘sham’ terrorism conviction.
Rusesabagina, 67, is the peace-seeking hotel manager who was portrayed in the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda based on the 1994 genocide in the country.
But he was arrested on terrorism charges last year and was convicted by a Rwandan court and sentenced to 25 years in prison on Monday.
US resident Rusesabagina was in exile and claims he was abducted in Dubai and flown to Rwanda against his will. And his family called Monday’s trial a ‘sham’.
President Paul Kagame has been criticised at home and abroad for his political and human rights record.
And in an interview with Channel 4, Kanimba has urged Arsenal to ‘stop taking his money’ in order to stand up against ‘injustice’.
Asked who she is looking to pressure Kagame after her father’s conviction, she said: “We believe continuing to advocate, to tell people, to show the world the reality behind this regime…
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“And to encourage teams like Arsenal that are taking money from the dictator to stop taking his money.
“Because this will be the strongest show of support and the strongest demonstration that the international community does not stand by this level of injustice.”
During 100 days from April 1994, around 800,000 people – mostly from the Tutsi community – were slaughtered by Hutu extremists.
Hotel Rwanda shows Rusesabagina helping to shelter 1,000 people who were trying to escape harm.
He was initially lauded for his actions but has gradually become a Rwandan state enemy as his criticism of the government and their human rights record has grown.
In 2018 the landlocked country was praised by the World Bank for ‘achieving impressive development gains since the 1994 genocide and civil war’.
‘DEADLY ATTACKS’
Rwanda’s tourist board also sponsor Paris Saint-Germain, with the ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo visible on the women’s kit, men’s training gear and in the Parc des Princes stadium.
While exiled from Rwanda, Rusesabagina led an opposition coalition, which had an armed wing – the National Liberation Front (FLN).
In a 2018 message, he called for regime change saying ‘the time has come for us to use any means possible to bring about change in Rwanda’.
He has been found guilty of backing a rebel group behind deadly attacks in 2018 and 2019.
An Arsenal spokesperson told SunSport: “Since our partnership began in 2018, we have worked together to tell Rwanda’s story of culture, heritage and transition, as well as raising awareness of the country as a holiday destination.
“One year after the partnership began, Rwanda’s tourism revenue increased by 17 per cent and tourists from Europe increased by 22 per cent.
“This increase supports the growth of Rwanda’s economy, creating more revenue they can reinvest across all key sectors, lifting thousands out of poverty, and empowering citizens.
“This is where we will continue our focus.”
‘NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS’
Channel 4 said on Monday: “We put the allegations in this interview to the Rwandan high commission who have yet to respond.
“The Rwandan authorities have denied Rusesabagina’s allegations of human rights abuses.”
Rwanda Development Board CEO Clare Akamanzi wrote in March: “Investing in raising awareness is paramount to attracting tourists, and in Rwanda’s case, the need to transform negative perceptions associated with our history is also critical.
“This is why our partnerships with football clubs like Arsenal and PSG are such important investments.
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“They provide us with an invaluable opportunity to show off the wonders of our country, challenging entrenched biases and portraying the reality of Rwanda to the world.”
Earlier this year, Kagame blasted Arsenal’s woeful form and said ‘fans don’t deserve this’.
And in 2019, David Luiz took a trip to the African nation and met Kagame in person.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
