Bayern Munich football club withdraws sponsorship deal with Rwanda

German football giants, Bayern Munich has officially ended its commercial sponsorship agreement with the government of Rwanda, concluding a partnership that had aimed to promote the East African nation as a tourism and investment destination.

• Bayern Munich concluded its sponsorship agreement with the Rwanda government, transitioning to a developmental partnership.
• The revised three-year deal focuses on expanding Bayern's Youth Academy in Kigali for football talent development.
• Criticism regarding Rwanda's human rights record and DRC conflict influenced the change in the partnership.

The deal, which had drawn scrutiny in both Germany and Rwanda, has now been restructured.

According to a statement on FC Bayern Munich’s official website, the club and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) have agreed to a new three-year arrangement that shifts the focus from tourism promotion to football development.

Under the revised partnership, Bayern will expand its Youth Academy in Kigali, transitioning the relationship from a marketing sponsorship to a developmental initiative centred on talent cultivation and social impact.

“In constructive talks about our future direction, we agreed that a very special part of our relationship with RDB was the developmental nature of our work in Kigali through the FC Bayern Academy,” said Jan-Christian Dreesen, CEO of FC Bayern Munich.

“We are therefore transforming our commercial partnership into a talent programme and expanding the FC Bayern Academy in Kigali together with the RDB as both a football and social initiative. This remains perfectly aligned with our strategic objective of developing playing talent in Africa.”

While the club’s statement avoided directly addressing the reasons behind the change, German media widely reported that the decision followed increasing criticism of Rwanda’s human rights record and its alleged support for armed groups involved in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Human rights, DRC conflict may have spurred Bayern exit

Launched with Arsenal and PSG before extending to Bayern in 2023, the “Visit Rwanda” campaign aimed to position the country as a global tourism hub.

Rwanda reportedly paid Bayern €10 million annually for branding and youth football programs.

While not officially stated, Bayern’s withdrawal is widely linked to growing criticism of Rwanda’s human rights record and its alleged role in the DRC conflict. The decision comes amid growing scrutiny in Germany of partnerships with authoritarian-leaning governments, particularly those involving state-funded tourism campaigns.

In February, Bayern Munich supporters publicly expressed their disapproval, displaying a banner at a home match that accused the club of “betraying its values” through the Rwanda partnership.

Kigali has faced sustained allegations of suppressing dissent and supporting rebel groups destabilizing eastern DRC. This, combined with pressure from German media, civil society groups, and political figures, intensified calls for Bayern to reconsider its ties.

The DRC government also urged international partners to distance themselves from Rwanda as violence in the region escalated.

For Rwanda, the termination represents a reputational blow.

The Kagame government has prioritized sports diplomacy, most notably through high-profile sponsorships with clubs like Arsenal, PSG, and Bayern, as a tool to reshape international perceptions and attract tourism.

Although Rwandan authorities have not officially commented, insiders suggest the setback may prompt a broader reassessment of its branding strategy, especially within European markets.

Read More