Arsenal’s £10 million-a-year “Visit Rwanda” sponsorship is under intense scrutiny as the club faces diplomatic backlash for ignoring calls to sever ties with Rwanda.
With the UN, G7, and UK officials condemning Rwanda’s role in human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo, pressure is mounting on the club to act.
As Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain also face growing criticism over their Rwandan partnerships, Arsenal’s silence is becoming impossible to justify.
Arsenal is facing mounting international pressure to sever its £10 million-a-year sponsorship deal with Rwanda amid allegations of the country’s direct involvement in human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The controversy deepened this week after Arsenal was accused of snubbing a diplomatic request from DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, who sought to discuss the club’s ties to Rwanda’s tourism campaign, “Visit Rwanda.”
Wagner, who was in London for talks with UK officials regarding Rwanda’s alleged support for M23 rebels, confirmed that Arsenal failed to respond to her request for a meeting. Wagner said: “We offered to meet Arsenal, but they didn’t reach out or take us up on the offer. We have not received an answer. Apparently they are not interested in meeting us.”
She had previously written to the club, urging it to reconsider its association with a government accused of war crimes, stating: “Your sponsor is directly responsible for this misery. If not for your own consciences, then do it for the victims of Rwandan aggression.”
The UN, G7 nations, and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy have all condemned Rwanda’s role in the escalating conflict, which has left nearly 3,000 people dead in Goma and led to mass displacement. Reports from UN peacekeepers have documented war crimes, including mass executions, sexual violence, and the burning of women alive in a Congolese prison following a rebel attack. The European Parliament has now urged the EU to freeze budget support for Rwanda until it breaks ties with M23.
In stark contrast to Arsenal’s silence, Bayern Munich, another club sponsored by Rwanda, has sent representatives to the country to assess the situation and is in contact with the German foreign ministry.
Paris Saint-Germain is also facing pressure to reconsider its Rwandan partnership.
Despite the growing international outcry, Arsenal has remained unresponsive. With £600 million in annual revenue, the club has little financial incentive to cling to a deal that is now tarnishing its global reputation. Supporter groups and human rights advocates have urged Arsenal to take a stand, arguing that continuing to promote “Visit Rwanda” in the midst of a humanitarian crisis is morally indefensible.
With diplomatic tensions rising and the UK government openly questioning Rwanda’s conduct, Arsenal’s reluctance to engage with the DRC’s concerns is becoming increasingly untenable.
The club now faces a defining moment: ignore the criticism and risk further reputational damage, or acknowledge the gravity of the situation and sever its ties with Rwanda before the pressure becomes insurmountable.
The deal is not due to end until next year.