The cycling world association holds on Rwanda as the venue for the 2025 street World Cup. The European Parliament, on the other hand, demands that the country to withdraw the right of voyage should support Rwanda further rebels in the DR Congo. For security reasons, a World Tour team does not have his team to be currently ongoing “Tour du Rwanda” sent.
When asked about a possible alternative location for the street World Cup, said David Lappartant the portal “Cyclingnews.com”: “There is no plan B.” The President of the Cycling Sports World Berry UCI (Union Cyclist Internationale) added that when he took office, it was his dream to carry out a world championship for the first time on the African continent.
Especially in the 125th year of the UCI existence “Incredibly special”to be able to realize the dream. In addition, sport is neutral and should not be politicized.
European Parliament calls for any withdrawal of the World Cup
However, critical voices come from politics. In one The European Parliament calls for joint decision -making application,, “That the world’s road cycling championships of the International Cycling Association (UCI) will be canceled in Kigali in 2025 if Rwanda does not change its course”. The various races for World Cup titles in the capital Kigali are planned for the period between September 21 and 28.
In the application, the European Parliament of Rwanda, among other things, states to support the rebel group “M23” in a war with the military of the Democratic Republic (DR) Congo with its army. The “M23” is also held responsible for around 3,000 dead by the United Nations, which the struggle for the region around the city of Goma, which is rich in land treasures. In addition, there are said to have been a number of rapes of women and girls, and hundreds of thousands of people from their homeland would be sold to other areas of the DR Congo.
The city of Goma with around two million inhabitants is located in the far east of the DR Congo, the second largest area in Africa. It borders on the much smaller Rwanda, which the “M23” group commands, as a United Nations report stated in the summer of 2024. Rwanda wants to get valuable minerals from the Goma region, among other things.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, who has been in power for 30 years and is now considered a autocrate, denies support from the rebel group.
Tourism campaign as “sports washing”?
Kagame and his government have been trying to polish up the Image of Rwanda for a long time and boost tourism after the East African state in 1994 passed the Hutu genocide to the Tutsi, which is said to have cost at least 500,000 and up to one million people.
The tourist campaign “Visit Rwanda“(Visited Rwanda) became known in Europe when the famous football cub FC arsenal printed the lettering on his jerseys. Paris now also collect Saint-Germain And the German record champion FC Bayern Munich money from Rwanda.
Foreign Minister of the DR Congo: Hands of Bavaria also “blood stained”
Human rights organizations sometimes criticize the clubs violently. Finally threw Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, DR Congo’s Foreign Minister, before the clubs that their hands are because of the sponsorship contracts “Blood stained”.
FC Bayern announced that they are talking about the situation and support of the “M23” on site in Africa. When and whether this happened is open.
Million investments in sports
Rwanda, which received around 100 million euros in development aid from Germany from 2022 to 2024, invests a number of millions in sport. Classic “sports watering” see critics in the commitment that may even bring Formula 1 to the east of Africa. The FIFA football association met in 2023 for its congress in Kigali.
The “Tour du Rwanda” is now established in the cycling enthusiast. Since February 23 and until March 2, the 17th edition has been rolling through the country over more than 800 kilometers. Also the Belgian World Tour team “Soudal – Quick-Step“Wanted to take part in the stage race with a mix of experienced professionals and drivers from the U23 team.
Belgian team canceled “Tour du Rwanda”
The Team However, declared your participation because security was not guaranteed. “It is unfortunate for our development team, but sometimes there are more important things than races”said CEO Jürgen Foré According to a Belgian news agency of the daily newspaper “Het Nieuwsblad“.
“The stages three and four arrive only one stone’s throw from the place where the rebels are, there are maybe 50 kilometers“, added Kevin Hulsmans Accordingly, the team boss of the U23 team from “Soudal – Quick Step”. The drivers should not only drive, but also spend the night at the edge of the war zone in the hotel: “This is questionable for me.”