🔗 Share this article

Arsenal Football Club has officially announced that its disputed sponsorship agreement with Visit Rwanda will expire in June this upcoming year.

Background and Scrutiny

The partnership, estimated to cost around ten million pounds each year, began in 2018 and has since faced significant scrutiny.

Such scrutiny stems from accusations of Rwandan assistance for the M23 rebel group in continuing hostilities in the eastern part of the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Earlier this year, Arsenal faced allegations of delivering an "outrageous" snub to the government of the DRC by failing to convene with the DRC's foreign minister to address the sponsorship.

Partnership Structure and Objectives

Visit Rwanda operates as a division of the the country's development agency, which is a government department.

There is broad consensus that Arsenal signed and continued this partnership chiefly to increase their following across the continent.

Nonetheless, the arrangement has now concluded after both parties “jointly decided” to part ways.

“Collaboratively, Arsenal and the Rwanda Development Board have exceeded the original goals of the partnership – promoting conservation and sustainable tourism, motivating countless fans to explore Rwanda, and establishing a durable base for visitor increase,” read an official Arsenal statement.

The announcement added that the partnership has also supported Rwanda's ambition to become an international sporting hub in Africa and welcome more worldwide tournaments while executing local football projects that have helped hundreds of young players and coaches develop their skills and encourage more involvement in sport across the country.

Leadership View and Supporter Response

Richard Garlick, Arsenal's CEO, characterized the deal as a “significant journey” and claimed it had been “propelling” the club's goals.

Yet this view was contested by a segment of the club's followers, with the protest movement Gunners Supporting Peace demonstrating outside the North London venue during the initial Champions League semi-final match against the French club in the end of April.

Activists unveiled a banner that read “Drop Visit Rwanda” and provided wristbands to conceal the Rwanda branding on uniforms.

Broader Context and Other Clubs

During that period, the French champions continued their sponsorship agreement with Visit Rwanda for several more years.

Simultaneously, Atlético Madrid signed a fresh deal for the identical duration that has resulted in the emblem appearing on the Madrid-based team's male and female kits.