🔗 Share this article

Arsenal Football Club has confirmed that its disputed sponsorship arrangement with Visit Rwanda will come to an end in June this upcoming year.

Background and Scrutiny

The arrangement, reportedly valued at around £10 million annually, was first established and has since faced significant scrutiny.

This criticism stems from Rwanda's alleged support for the M23 militia in ongoing conflicts in the eastern areas of the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In February, Arsenal was criticized for delivering an "outrageous" snub to the authorities in Congo by not arranging a meeting with Congolese diplomat Thérèse Wagner to talk about the deal.

Partnership Structure and Objectives

Visit Rwanda operates as a branch of the the country's development agency, which is a public entity.

Many speculate that Arsenal signed and maintained this partnership primarily to expand their African supporter base.

Nonetheless, the partnership has now terminated after both parties “jointly decided” to go their separate ways.

“Collaboratively, Arsenal and the Rwanda Development Board have exceeded the initial objectives of the partnership – supporting environmental protection and sustainable tourism, motivating countless fans to visit the nation, and building a solid groundwork for visitor increase,” declared an official Arsenal statement.

The release further noted that the partnership has also supported Rwanda's ambition to become an global sports center in Africa and stage additional international competitions while delivering community soccer programs that have helped hundreds of young players and coaches develop their skills and encourage more involvement in athletics nationwide.

Executive Perspective and Fan Reaction

Richard Garlick, Arsenal's CEO, described the partnership as a “major expedition” and asserted it had been “advancing” the club's aspirations.

But that is not how a section of Arsenal's fanbase, with the protest movement Gunners for Peace staging protests outside the North London venue during the initial Champions League semi-final match against Paris Saint-Germain in the end of April.

Activists unveiled a sign stating “Drop Visit Rwanda” and provided wristbands to conceal the Visit Rwanda logo on jerseys.

Industry Perspective and Fellow Clubs

In the same month, the French champions renewed their partnership deal with Visit Rwanda through 2028.

Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid signed a fresh deal for the identical duration that has led to the branding featured on the Madrid-based team's men's and women's shirts.