A group of Arsenal fans with the name Gunners for Peace are set to hold a protest against the Visit Rwanda sponsorship deal at the Emirates when the club play host to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday.
The Arsenal supporters are calling for the club to end its Visit Rwanda sponsorship due to ethical and political concerns surrounding the Rwandan government.
The group will hand out armbands to the home fans before the match, which they will use to cover the visit Rwanda label on the sleeves of their jersey.
What is the Arsenal Visit Rwanda Deal?
The ‘Visit Rwanda’ deal is a tourism promotion partnership between Arsenal and the Rwandan government, signed in May 2018. PSG Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are other top club that also partners in the deal.
As part of the agreement, the ‘Visit Rwanda’ label appears on the left sleeve of Arsenal kits, and is reportedly worth £10 million per year, with the aims to boost Rwanda’s visibility as a destination for tourists.
Rwanda Government Human Rights Record?
Rwanda’s government, led by President Paul Kagame, has faced widespread criticism for its human rights record, with accusations ranging from suppression of political opposition, to media censorship, arbitrary arrests, and alleged extrajudicial killings.
Human rights groups also highlight the lack of freedom of expression and restrictions on civil society.
International concern intensified over Rwanda’s alleged support for the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, linked to severe atrocities.
While the government defends its actions as necessary for stability and development, critics argue that these measures undermine democratic freedoms and fuel regional instability.
Gunners Urge Club to End Partnership
The DRC’s foreign minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, has urged Arsenal to terminate the sponsorship, describing it as a ‘blood-stained’ deal .
In response to the club’s lack of action since 2022, Arsenal fans have launched a sacastical ‘Visit Tottenham’ campaign, featuring billboards and videos mocking the sponsorship. With this campaign, they suggest that aligning with their bitter rivals would be preferable to maintaining ties with the Rwanda regime.
Arsenal’s Stance On Criticism
Despite the backlash from its supporters, Arsenal maintains that the goal of the partnership is to promote tourism in a developing country and it’s not an endorsement of its political leadership.
Nevertheless, the involvement in the deal of the Rwanda government, which is faced with criticism for its human rights record continuous to fuel controversy.
As of now, the Gunners have shown no intention of dissolving the sponsorship, albeit the outrage from fan continues to put them under pressure and may influence future decisions.
The contract, which was renewed in 2021 is set to expire this summer, and there has been no talks of extension between the two parties.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
2 Comments
Thanks
Thanks olt
No visit rewanda again oo