• DRC signed a €43M deal with FC Barcelona, adding to earlier partnerships with AC Milan and AS Monaco, totaling €89.8M.
• The deals face criticism amid local crises, with calls to prioritize basic services.
• Government says the aim is to boost tourism, global image, and local sports development.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recently formalized its third partnership with a European football club, signing a four-season deal with FC Barcelona starting this year. This latest agreement, announced by the Catalan club on July 30, 2025, follows two earlier deals with AS Monaco, a three-season agreement signed in June 2025 and set to begin with the 2025-2026 season, and an initial three-year deal with AC Milan made official in October 2024, set to begin in 2026.

None of these contracts has been publicly disclosed. However, international press reports estimate the DRC's total commitments at €89.8 million, or more than $100 million at the current exchange rate.

Specifically, the DRC has pledged €43 million to FC Barcelona. According to Jeune Afrique, €10 million has already been disbursed for the 2025–2026 season, with payments increasing by €500,000 per season to reach €11.5 million in 2028–2029. Several sources indicate an annual amount of approximately €1.6 million for AS Monaco. For the AC Milan agreement, Le Monde reports a valuation of €14 million per season, totaling €42 million over three years.

These initiatives have sparked criticism within the DRC. Many observers denounce investments abroad while local football faces a crisis marked by deteriorating infrastructure. On social media, numerous citizens believe these funds would be better spent on basic needs such as water, electricity, and healthcare.

Authorities, however, contend these partnerships are part of a broader strategy. They are included in the DRC’s overall strategic communication plan, aiming to strengthen the country’s soft power, promote its international image amid conflict in the East, and attract investors and tourists. The AC Milan agreement, signed by Tourism Minister Didier M’Pambia Musanga, specifically seeks to position the DRC as a tourist destination, with ambitions to raise tourism’s contribution to GDP from 5% to 10%, mirroring Tanzania's growth.

Beyond international promotion, these agreements also include support for local sports development. FC Barcelona's partnership, for instance, covers sports activities like football, basketball, handball, futsal, and roller hockey through its Barça Academy and Barça Innovation Hub programs. The AC Milan agreement involves launching a football academy in Boma, in partnership with the Mama Sofia Foundation.

Timothée Manoke (Intern)