Following months of mounting criticism, Bayern Munich have officially ended their commercial sponsorship with the Rwandan government’s tourism arm, “Visit Rwanda.”
The club announced on Friday that the deal will transition into a partnership focused on football development in Rwanda, specifically expanding the FC Bayern Youth Academy in Kigali.
The decision comes after a prolonged public outcry from fans and media, as well as an open letter from the DRC’s foreign minister, who called the sponsorship “blood-stained.”
The letter drew attention to Rwanda’s alleged support of the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Although the commercial aspect of the deal, reportedly worth €5 million ($5.8 million) annually, has been cut, Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen stated the club’s commitment to the new developmental partnership remains strong.
The move puts pressure on other clubs with similar deals, like Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid, to reconsider their sponsorships.
