Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are under growing pressure to sever ties with Visit Rwanda, as the Rwandan government faces accusations of supporting the M23 rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to Mail Sport, Arsenal is considering dropping the Visit Rwanda deal this summer and exploring more lucrative sponsorship options, potentially securing an extra £10 million per year. Meanwhile, Le Parisien reports that PSG’s €15 million per season deal with Rwanda is sparking internal controversy.
The partnership between PSG and Rwanda has caused unrest even within the club, with Presnel Kimpembe and Randal Kolo Muani, both of Congolese descent, reportedly opposing the agreement. Former PSG player Youssouf Mulumbu has also spoken out, urging the club to reconsider its ties with Kigali. A petition gathering over 70,000 signatures is calling on PSG president Nasser al-Khelaïfi to terminate the sponsorship. The issue has reached the political sphere, with DRC’s Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner urging Arsenal, PSG, and Bayern Munich to cut ties with a deal she described as “stained with blood.”
While PSG has declined to comment, Arsenal is actively exploring new tourism sponsorships. More Premier League clubs are also said to be in discussions with alternative commercial partners, as scrutiny over government-backed football sponsorships intensifies.
Therwandan
