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Arsenal Football Club has declared that its disputed sponsorship partnership with Visit Rwanda will terminate in June of next year.

Context and Criticism

The partnership, said to be worth around ten million pounds each year, was initiated six years ago and has since faced significant scrutiny.

Such scrutiny is due to the country's reported backing for the M23 rebel group in persistent fighting in the eastern region of the bordering Congo.

Earlier this year, Arsenal was criticized for delivering an "outrageous" snub to the Congolese government by not arranging a meeting with Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner to talk about the deal.

Deal Composition and Aims

Visit Rwanda serves as an arm of the the country's development agency, which is a public entity.

It is widely believed that Arsenal signed and continued this partnership chiefly to increase their African supporter base.

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

“Together, Arsenal and the Rwanda Development Board have outperformed the initial objectives of the partnership – supporting environmental protection and sustainable tourism, motivating countless fans to visit the nation, and creating a lasting foundation for visitor increase,” stated an club announcement.

The statement continued that the partnership has also assisted Rwanda's goal of becoming an global sports center in Africa and welcome more worldwide tournaments while executing grassroots football initiatives that have supported many aspiring footballers and coaches develop their skills and encourage more involvement in athletics nationwide.

Leadership View and Supporter Response

Richard Garlick, Arsenal's CEO, described the partnership as a “important voyage” and asserted it had been “driving forward” the club's goals.

Yet this view was contested by a section of Arsenal's fanbase, with the protest movement Arsenal Peace Advocates holding rallies outside the club's home ground during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against PSG in the end of April.

Activists unveiled a banner that read “Drop Visit Rwanda” and distributed armbands to hide the Rwanda branding on uniforms.

Broader Context and Other Clubs

During that period, PSG extended their sponsorship arrangement with Visit Rwanda for several more years.

At the same time, the Madrid-based team signed a fresh deal for the same period that has caused the branding featured on the Madrid-based team's men's and women's shirts.