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Arsenal Football Club has officially announced that its disputed sponsorship arrangement with Visit Rwanda will come to an end in the coming June.

Context and Criticism

This deal, estimated to cost around £10 million annually, was initiated six years ago and has since faced significant scrutiny.

This criticism is due to Rwanda's alleged support for the M23 forces in continuing hostilities in the eastern region of the bordering Congo.

Months ago, Arsenal faced allegations of committing a disrespectful act to the Congolese government by failing to convene with Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner to address the sponsorship.

Partnership Structure and Objectives

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

It is widely believed that Arsenal committed to and upheld this partnership chiefly to increase their following across the continent.

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

“Jointly, Arsenal and the Rwanda Development Board have surpassed the initial objectives of the partnership – promoting conservation and sustainable tourism, encouraging numerous followers to visit the nation, and creating a lasting foundation for tourism growth,” declared an club announcement.

The announcement added that the partnership has also supported Rwanda's ambition to become an global sports center in Africa and stage additional international competitions while implementing community soccer programs that have helped hundreds of young players and coaches develop their skills and promote increased engagement in sport across the country.

Management Opinion and Fan Backlash

Richard Garlick, Arsenal's CEO, portrayed the arrangement as a “important voyage” and stated it had been “driving forward” the club's goals.

However, this perspective was not shared by a portion of the Gunners' supporters, with the protest movement Gunners Supporting Peace holding rallies outside the North London venue during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain in late April.

Protesters displayed a banner that read “Drop Visit Rwanda” and distributed armbands to cover up the Rwanda branding on kits.

Broader Context and Other Clubs

Around that time, PSG extended their sponsorship arrangement with Visit Rwanda for several more years.

Meanwhile, the Madrid-based team inked a recent contract for the same period that has led to the logo being carried on the La Liga side's men's and women's shirts.