🔗 Share this article

The North London club has officially announced that its much-debated sponsorship arrangement with Visit Rwanda will expire in June of next year.

Context and Criticism

The partnership, said to be worth around £10m per year, was first established and has since faced significant scrutiny.

This criticism stems from the country's reported backing for the M23 forces in ongoing conflicts in the eastern part of the bordering Congo.

In February, Arsenal was accused of committing a disrespectful act to the Congolese government by failing to convene with the DRC's foreign minister to address the sponsorship.

Deal Composition and Aims

Visit Rwanda functions as a branch of the Rwanda Development Board, which is a government department.

There is broad consensus that Arsenal entered into and upheld this partnership chiefly to increase their following across the continent.

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

“Collaboratively, Arsenal and the Rwanda Development Board have surpassed the original goals of the partnership – supporting environmental protection and eco-friendly travel, motivating countless fans to discover the country, and establishing a durable base for visitor increase,” stated an Gunners' release.

The release further noted that the partnership has also supported Rwanda's ambition to become an international sporting hub in Africa and stage additional international competitions while implementing community soccer programs that have assisted numerous youth athletes and coaches develop their skills and encourage more involvement in sport across the country.

Leadership View and Supporter Response

Richard Garlick, Arsenal's CEO, described the partnership as a “major expedition” and stated it had been “driving forward” the club's goals.

But that is not how a section of Arsenal's fanbase, with the campaign group Gunners for Peace holding rallies outside the North London venue during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against PSG in April's conclusion.

Demonstrators showed a placard declaring “Terminate the Visit Rwanda Partnership” and handed out sleeves to hide the Rwanda branding on uniforms.

Wider Landscape and Additional Teams

During that period, Paris Saint-Germain continued their sponsorship agreement with Visit Rwanda for several more years.

At the same time, the Madrid-based team inked a recent contract for the identical duration that has resulted in the branding featured on the Spanish club's male and female kits.