🔗 Share this article

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

Origins and Examination

The partnership, estimated to cost around £10m per year, began in 2018 and has since been heavily criticized.

Such scrutiny stems from Rwanda's alleged support for the M23 rebel group in persistent fighting in the eastern part of the bordering Congo.

In February, Arsenal was accused of issuing a severe rebuff to the government of the DRC by declining to meet with Congolese diplomat Thérèse Wagner to address the sponsorship.

Partnership Structure and Objectives

Visit Rwanda operates as an arm of the Rwanda's development authority, which is a government department.

There is broad consensus that Arsenal signed and maintained this partnership mainly to grow their fanbase in Africa.

However, the deal has now ended after both parties “mutually agreed” to go their separate ways.

“Collaboratively, Arsenal and the Rwanda Development Board have surpassed the initial objectives of the partnership – promoting conservation and responsible tourism, inspiring millions of supporters to discover the country, and establishing a durable base for travel industry expansion,” read an official Arsenal statement.

The release further noted that the partnership has also aided Rwanda's ambition to become an worldwide athletic destination in Africa and stage additional international competitions while delivering community soccer programs that have supported many aspiring footballers and coaches improve their techniques and promote increased engagement in sport across the country.

Leadership View and Supporter Response

Richard Garlick, Arsenal's CEO, described the partnership as a “significant journey” and stated it had been “propelling” the club's aspirations.

However, this perspective was not shared by a segment of the club's followers, with the protest movement Gunners for Peace staging protests outside the Emirates Stadium during the first semi-final encounter in Europe's premier competition against Paris Saint-Germain in late April.

Activists unveiled a placard declaring “Terminate the Visit Rwanda Partnership” and handed out sleeves to cover up the Visit Rwanda logo on uniforms.

Broader Context and Other Clubs

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

Meanwhile, the Spanish club inked a recent contract for the identical duration that has led to the emblem appearing on the Madrid-based team's first-team and women's team jerseys.