Premier League leaders Arsenal will end their long-running sponsorship deal with Rwanda at the close of the current season, the Rwanda Development Board confirmed on Wednesday.
The partnership, branded Visit Rwanda, was signed eight seasons ago and saw the tourism logo displayed on the sleeves of Arsenal’s jerseys. However, the deal has faced mounting criticism in recent years, particularly over Rwanda’s alleged role in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The DRC has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 militia, which has seized large areas of territory since resuming hostilities in 2021. The fighting has killed thousands and triggered a humanitarian crisis, despite recent ceasefire agreements and peace frameworks.
Arsenal supporters also voiced opposition to the sponsorship earlier this year, staging protests in April against the club’s continued association with Rwanda amid the ongoing violence.
In a statement, the Rwanda Development Board said:
“Arsenal and the Rwanda Development Board have mutually agreed to conclude their partnership at the end of this season, bringing to a close an eight-season collaboration that included Visit Rwanda as Arsenal’s first Official Sleeve Partner.”
While the Arsenal deal is ending, Rwanda continues to maintain sponsorship agreements with other European clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Atlético Madrid.