In a statement,, external Arsenal said the club and the Rwanda development board had “mutually agreed” to end the deal.
The Gunners added it had “exceeded the original goals of the partnership”, which were to promote conservation and sustainable tourism while also supporting Rwanda’s ambition “to become an international sporting hub in Africa”.
Richard Garlick, Arsenal’s chief executive officer said the partnership had played an important role in helping the Gunners “invest in our long-term vision to win major trophies, in a financially sustainable way”.
In February, DR Congo appealed to Arsenal, PSG and Bayern Munich, who are also sponsored by Visit Rwanda, to end their “blood stained” deals amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the country.
A campaign group named Gunners for Peace protested outside Emirates Stadium during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final tie with PSG last season, with a banner that read ‘Drop Visit Rwanda’, and distributed armbands to cover up the Visit Rwanda logo on kits.
The group also made a spoof video urging fans to ‘Visit Tottenham’, Arsenal’s north London rivals, instead, to highlight the need for a sponsor “that better fits the values of the club”.
Gunners for Peace posted on Instagram, external the news of the deal ending showed Arsenal “still has the class and the values to do the right thing”, adding: “We all know that money talks, but if fans get together and speak louder then they have to listen.”
