Arsenal have announced that their controversial sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda will end in June, after both parties mutually agreed to part ways. The partnership, reportedly worth around £10 million a year, began in 2018 and has faced significant criticism over Rwanda's alleged support for the M23 militia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In February, Arsenal were accused of snubbing the Congolese foreign minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, by failing to meet her to discuss the sponsorship. The deal, which was widely seen as an effort to boost Arsenal's fanbase in Africa, has been a target of fan protests, with the group Gunners for Peace demonstrating outside the Emirates Stadium in April and distributing armbands to cover the Visit Rwanda logo on kits.
An Arsenal statement said the partnership had “exceeded the original goals”, promoting conservation, sustainable tourism, and grassroots football in Rwanda. Chief executive Richard Garlick described it as a “significant journey” that drove forward the club’s ambitions. However, the controversy persisted, with Arsenal fans continuing to call for the club to drop the sponsorship.
Meanwhile, other clubs have deepened ties with Visit Rwanda. Paris Saint-Germain extended its sponsorship until 2028 in April, and Atlético Madrid signed a new deal for the same period, with the logo appearing on both the men’s and women’s shirts. Arsenal’s decision to end the arrangement marks a clear departure from the approach taken by its European counterparts.
