Paris Saint-Germain officially announced this Wednesday the extension of its sponsorship contract with the Rwandan tourism board “Visit Rwanda.” This extension ties the capital club until 2028 to a state that is the subject of strong criticism regarding its alleged role in the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The announcement, released on social media, immediately sparked numerous negative reactions. “Paris Saint-Germain and Visit Rwanda renew their partnership until 2028,” PSG simply stated on X. This controversial partnership reportedly brings in around 15 million euros annually for the Parisian club. A sponsor of PSG since 2019, Rwanda is accused by several sources of supporting the M23, an armed group active in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A petition launched last January, titled “Partnership of Shame PSG x VISIT RWANDA,” has already gathered nearly 75,000 signatures, calling for the termination of this agreement. Furthermore, a protest took place near the Parc des Princes on April 6th, the day after a match against Angers (1-0 victory for PSG). However, these actions have not deterred the Parisian club from continuing its collaboration.
Increased visibility during the Club World Cup
In its statement, PSG justified this extension by highlighting the benefits for the global promotion of Rwandan tourism and culture, thanks to “increased visibility.” The club also specified that “Visit Rwanda” will feature on the sleeve of the men’s first team jersey during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which will take place this summer in the United States.
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