KIGALI, RWANDA — Amidst the backdrop of lingering geopolitical friction in the Great Lakes region, the beautiful game delivered a profound masterclass in unity on Wednesday night. Following the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Leopards’ outstanding World Cup draw against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Kigali’s premier sports and entertainment hub, Zaria Court, erupted into jubilant, cross-cultural celebrations.
The vibrant scenes, characterized by hundreds of Congolese expatriates and locals wearing DRC national team jerseys and waving flags, have been hailed as a powerful testament to Rwanda’s commitment to diversity, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence.
The poignant atmosphere was captured and amplified by prominent Rwandan social entrepreneur and former national team football player, Eric E. Murangwa, MBE. Taking to social media platform X, Murangwa reflected on the deeper significance of the evening’s festivities, contrasting the grassroots camaraderie in Kigali with the divisive rhetoric often pushed by regional politicians.
“The fact that so many Congolese living in Kigali felt safe and confident enough to wear their national team shirts, wave their flags and celebrate passionately alongside Rwandans says a great deal about the Rwanda we continue to build,” Murangwa wrote. “It demonstrates a society where people are free to express themselves and where sport has the power to unite rather than divide.”
The “Wissa” Moment: Reclaiming Identity Through Sport
One specific moment from the evening resonated deeply, encapsulating the sheer unifying power of the World Cup. According to Murangwa, a group of passionate Congolese supporters spotted a Rwandan friend of his in the crowd and immediately began chanting, “Wissa! Wissa! Wissaaa!”
The fans jovially mistook the man for Yoane Wissa, the DRC hero who scored the crucial equalizer against the mighty Portuguese side.
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The interaction held a profound underlying significance. Murangwa noted that his friend, identified on X as @GusGus_Mu, is a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Furthermore, he possesses physical features that, in recent years, have been maliciously weaponized by extremists and Kinshasa government to stigmatize and target innocent people as “Rwandan” or “Tutsi.”
“Yet here in Kigali, he was embraced, celebrated and jokingly compared to one of the DRC’s biggest football heroes,” Murangwa observed. “That single moment said more than any political speech could ever say.”
Defying the “Poison Rwandais” Rhetoric
The vibrant, safe celebration of Congolese national pride on Rwandan soil stands in stark contrast to the xenophobic narratives that have occasionally flared up in the region. Murangwa directly addressed the derogatory labels, such as “Poison Rwandais” or “Rwandan Ubwenge,” which have been utilized by certain political figures to demonize Rwanda and stoke hostility.
Instead, Murangwa argued, Wednesday night’s scenes were a reflection of the true Rwandan spirit. “Ironically, what some politicians and prominent figures… have labelled ‘Poison Rwandais’… is, in reality, nothing more than Rwanda’s commitment to unity, dignity, discipline, resilience and peaceful coexistence,” he stated.
As the 2026 World Cup continues to captivate the globe, the events at Zaria Court serve as a vivid reminder that ordinary citizens often share far more in common than political divides suggest.
“Football brought people together, reminded us of our shared humanity, and showed that ordinary Rwandans and Congolese have far more in common than those who seek to divide them would ever like to admit,” Murangwa concluded. As long as national interests and security are respected, the message from Kigali remains clear: Rwanda will continue to welcome all who share the values of humanity and peace.
