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The North London club has confirmed that its much-debated sponsorship agreement with Visit Rwanda will come to an end in the coming June.

Background and Scrutiny

The partnership, estimated to cost around £10m per year, was first established and has since been heavily criticized.

Such scrutiny arises from accusations of Rwandan assistance for the M23 forces in ongoing conflicts in the eastern part of the bordering Congo.

Earlier this year, Arsenal faced allegations of delivering an "outrageous" snub to the authorities in Congo by declining to meet with Congolese diplomat Thérèse Wagner to discuss the partnership.

Partnership Structure and Objectives

Visit Rwanda functions as a division of the Rwanda Development Board, which is a state institution.

There is broad consensus that Arsenal entered into and continued this partnership chiefly to increase their African supporter base.

Nevertheless, the partnership has now terminated after both parties “jointly decided” to end their collaboration.

“Together, Arsenal and the Rwanda Development Board have surpassed the initial objectives of the partnership – supporting environmental protection and responsible tourism, motivating countless fans to explore Rwanda, and building a solid groundwork for travel industry expansion,” read an official Arsenal statement.

The release further noted that the partnership has also assisted Rwanda's objective to emerge as an worldwide athletic destination in Africa and stage additional international competitions while implementing grassroots football initiatives that have assisted numerous youth athletes and coaches improve their techniques and promote increased engagement in sport across the country.

Management Opinion and Fan Backlash

Richard Garlick, Arsenal's chief executive officer, described the partnership as a “significant journey” and stated it had been “driving forward” the club's ambitions.

Yet this view was contested by a section of Arsenal's fanbase, with the campaign group Gunners Supporting Peace staging protests outside the North London venue during the initial Champions League semi-final match against PSG in April's conclusion.

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

Broader Context and Other Clubs

During that period, PSG continued their sponsorship agreement with Visit Rwanda until 2028.

Simultaneously, the Spanish club entered a new agreement for the identical duration that has resulted in the branding featured on the La Liga side's men's and women's shirts.