Not all Arsenal fans are happy that the club has been promoting the ‘Visit Rwanda’ tourism campaign for years. They are planning a creative protest for Wednesday’s match against Crystal Palace.
When Arsenal FC hosts Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday evening, it will be worth taking a closer look at the Gunners’ fans’ jerseys. A fan group is planning to distribute armbands to cover up the sleeve sponsor’s logo, “Visit Rwanda.”
The partnership with the East African country’s tourism board, which has been in place since 2018, brings the Gunners tens of millions of pounds a year, but has repeatedly attracted criticism. This has intensified in recent months due to Rwanda’s support for the M23 militia in neighboring Congo, according to the UN.
“We want the board to terminate the contract in time for next season,” The Athletic quotes James Turner, a spokesperson for the Arsenal fan group “Gunners For Peace,” whose protest campaign bears the ironic name “Visit Tottenham.” In addition to a poster at the Emirates Stadium, the campaign includes a video clip mocking the London arch-rival, which ends with the words: “Visit Tottenham – because anything is better than visiting Rwanda.”
“Arsenal fans in Congo refuse to wear the jersey”
“We are in contact with Arsenal fans in Congo who refuse to wear the jersey until the sponsorship is terminated. This campaign is for them,” Turner emphasizes. “Of course, none of us would accept Tottenham on our jerseys, so why Rwanda? Where do we draw the line when it comes to these corporate deals?”
With FC Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain, Rwanda has gained further prominent supporters for the “Visit Rwanda” campaign under President Paul Kagame. The German record champions signed a five-year contract in 2023 and advertise the country on the advertising boards at the Allianz Arena, among other places, which has already sparked protests among FCB fans.
At the beginning of the year, the foreign minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo called on all three clubs to end their sponsorship.
