The decades-long conflict in eastern DR Congo has intensified since January when M23 staged an unprecedented offensive, seizing the cities of Goma and Bukavu and sparking fears of a wider regional war.

Rwanda has said its forces are acting in self-defence against the Congolese army and allied militias, some of which it accuses of links to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

DR Congo also accuses Rwanda of illegally exploiting its mineral deposits, which Rwanda denies.

At the end of last week DR Congo and Rwanda signed an agreement to respect each other’s sovereignty and come up with a draft peace deal by Friday.

That agreement in Washington DC came about after the government in Kinshasa turned to the United States for help in exchange for access to mineral deposits, and both sides now expect significant investments facilitated by the US government and private sector.

Meanwhile, DR Congo and the M23 group said last week that they were committed to peace, expressing hopes that a permanent ceasefire could be reached.

More than a week of talks mediated by Qatar have been described as “frank and constructive”.

Congolese Arsenal fan Tresor Kudabika, who is part of the Gunners for Peace campaign, said that peace negotiations would not change their ultimate target of getting the club to end the Visit Rwanda deal.

“Some way or another we will find a way to end this conflict, but it is not the right moment for Arsenal to keep this deal,” he told BBC Sport Africa.

“It is not giving a good image.”