Latest news with #RwandaDevelopmentBoard
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Bayern Munich to move away from its ‘Visit Rwanda' sponsorship this season after criticism from fans
Bayern Munich has signalled a significant reduction in its "Visit Rwanda" branding, transitioning away from a commercial sponsorship with the African nation following a backlash over its alleged support for rebels in neighbouring Congo. The German football champions announced a new agreement that reconfigures their existing partnership into a three-year deal, focusing instead on developing young players at a Bayern-affiliated academy in Rwanda. The original five-year deal, signed in 2023, saw Bayern dismiss allegations of "sportswashing" at the time. It included prominent "Visit Rwanda" advertisements within the stadium and aimed to promote tourism and investment opportunities in the country. This agreement had notably replaced a controversial sponsorship deal with Qatar. Rwanda maintains similar high-profile sponsorships with other European football giants, including Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, and Atletico Madrid. Public discontent with the partnership escalated in February when some Bayern fans displayed a large banner protesting the deal during a game. This came amid accusations from the United Nations that Rwanda has been backing rebel groups in eastern Congo. Under the revised terms, the focus shifts to a developmental initiative. Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen stated: "In constructive talks about our future direction, we agreed that a very special part of our relationship with (the Rwanda Development Board) was the developmental nature of our work in Kigali through the FC Bayern Academy. We are therefore transforming our commercial partnership into a talent programme and expanding the FC Bayern Academy in (Rwanda's capital) Kigali together with the RDB as both a football and social initiative. This remains perfectly aligned to our strategic objective of developing playing talent in Africa." Bayern did not specify the timeline for phasing out the "Visit Rwanda" branding, describing the change as a transition. As of Friday afternoon local time, the branding remained visible on a section of the club's website listing sponsors and partners. Jean-Guy Afrika, chief executive of the Rwanda Development Board, was quoted by Bayern as saying the changes aimed to "accelerate sports development," adding: "This continued partnership with FC Bayern helps ensure that talent development remains anchored in our broader vision to position Rwanda as a global hub for tourism, investment, and high-performance sport." Rwanda's presence in European football has steadily increased since 2018, when it first partnered with Arsenal to feature "Visit Rwanda" on the London club's shirt sleeves. An agreement with PSG was signed in 2019 and renewed in April this year, covering stadium branding and shirt-sleeve sponsorship at the Club World Cup. A three-year deal to sponsor Atletico Madrid, including branding on training and warm-up shirts, was agreed in April. The accusations against Rwanda centre on its alleged support for the M23 rebel group, which is the most potent of over 100 armed factions vying for dominance in mineral-rich eastern Congo, just across the border. Rwanda has also been accused of exploiting eastern Congo's minerals, which are crucial for products like smartphones and advanced fighter jets. However, Rwandan authorities counter these claims by alleging that some participants in the 1994 Rwandan genocide fled into Congo and are either collaborating with or being protected by the Congolese army. They have consistently denied involvement in Congo's minerals sector, asserting that any security actions taken are solely to protect their own territory. ___
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bayern Munich shifts away from 'Visit Rwanda' sponsorship after criticism
MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich signaled Friday it will cut down on 'Visit Rwanda' branding as it moves 'away from a commercial sponsorship' with the African nation facing a backlash over alleged support for rebels in neighboring Congo. Bayern dismissed allegations of 'sportswashing' when it signed a five-year Rwanda deal in 2023. It included advertisements in the stadium and what Bayern called events 'to promote tourism and investment opportunities in Rwanda.' At the time, it replaced a controversial sponsorship deal with Qatar. Rwanda has similar sponsorships with European soccer giants like Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid. Some Bayern fans displayed a large banner at a game in February protesting the deal, amid accusations from the United Nations that Rwanda has backed rebels in neighboring Congo. Now the German soccer champion says it's reached a new deal with Rwanda which turns the existing sponsorship deal into a three-year agreement focusing on developing young soccer players at a Bayern-affiliated academy in the country. 'In constructive talks about our future direction, we agreed that a very special part of our relationship with (the Rwanda Development Board) was the developmental nature of our work in Kigali through the FC Bayern Academy,' Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen said in a statement. "We are therefore transforming our commercial partnership into a talent programme and expanding the FC Bayern Academy in (Rwanda's capital) Kigali together with the RDB as both a football and social initiative. This remains perfectly aligned to our strategic objective of developing playing talent in Africa.' Bayern didn't specify how soon it would drop 'Visit Rwanda' branding as part of the move, which is described as a transition. As of Friday afternoon local time, the branding was still displayed under a section of the Bayern website listing club sponsors and partners. The RDB's chief executive, Jean-Guy Afrika, was quoted by Bayern as saying the changes to the partnership aimed to 'accelerate sports development,' adding: "This continued partnership with FC Bayern helps ensure that talent development remains anchored in our broader vision to position Rwanda as a global hub for tourism, investment, and high-performance sport.' Rwanda's presence in European soccer has grown steadily since 2018, when it first partnered with Arsenal to put 'Visit Rwanda' branding on the London club's shirt sleeves. An agreement with PSG was signed in 2019 and renewed in April this year. It covers branding in the stadium and included shirt-sleeve sponsorship at the Club World Cup. A three-year deal to sponsor Atletico was agreed in April including branding on training and warm-up shirts. Rwanda is accused of supporting the M23 rebel group, the most potent of more than 100 armed groups vying for dominance in mineral-rich eastern Congo just across the border with Rwanda. Rwanda also has been accused of exploiting eastern Congo's minerals, used in smartphones, advanced fighter jets and much more. However, Rwandan authorities allege some of those who participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide fled into Congo and are either working with or are being protected by the Congolese army. They have denied involvement in Congo's minerals sector and said any security action taken is to protect its territory. ___ AP soccer:
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Bayern Munich shifts away from 'Visit Rwanda' sponsorship after criticism
Bayern Munich signaled Friday it will cut down on 'Visit Rwanda' branding as it moves 'away from a commercial sponsorship' with the African nation facing a backlash over alleged support for rebels in neighboring Congo. Bayern dismissed allegations of 'sportswashing' when it signed a five-year Rwanda deal in 2023. It included advertisements in the stadium and what Bayern called events 'to promote tourism and investment opportunities in Rwanda.' At the time, it replaced a controversial sponsorship deal with Qatar. Rwanda has similar sponsorships with European soccer giants like Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid. Some Bayern fans displayed a large banner at a game in February protesting the deal, amid accusations from the United Nations that Rwanda has backed rebels in neighboring Congo. Now the German soccer champion says it's reached a new deal with Rwanda which turns the existing sponsorship deal into a three-year agreement focusing on developing young soccer players at a Bayern-affiliated academy in the country. 'In constructive talks about our future direction, we agreed that a very special part of our relationship with (the Rwanda Development Board) was the developmental nature of our work in Kigali through the FC Bayern Academy,' Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen said in a statement. "We are therefore transforming our commercial partnership into a talent programme and expanding the FC Bayern Academy in (Rwanda's capital) Kigali together with the RDB as both a football and social initiative. This remains perfectly aligned to our strategic objective of developing playing talent in Africa.' Bayern didn't specify how soon it would drop 'Visit Rwanda' branding as part of the move, which is described as a transition. As of Friday afternoon local time, the branding was still displayed under a section of the Bayern website listing club sponsors and partners. The RDB's chief executive, Jean-Guy Afrika, was quoted by Bayern as saying the changes to the partnership aimed to 'accelerate sports development,' adding: "This continued partnership with FC Bayern helps ensure that talent development remains anchored in our broader vision to position Rwanda as a global hub for tourism, investment, and high-performance sport.' Rwanda's presence in European soccer has grown steadily since 2018, when it first partnered with Arsenal to put 'Visit Rwanda' branding on the London club's shirt sleeves. An agreement with PSG was signed in 2019 and renewed in April this year. It covers branding in the stadium and included shirt-sleeve sponsorship at the Club World Cup. A three-year deal to sponsor Atletico was agreed in April including branding on training and warm-up shirts. Rwanda is accused of supporting the M23 rebel group, the most potent of more than 100 armed groups vying for dominance in mineral-rich eastern Congo just across the border with Rwanda. Rwanda also has been accused of exploiting eastern Congo's minerals, used in smartphones, advanced fighter jets and much more. However, Rwandan authorities allege some of those who participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide fled into Congo and are either working with or are being protected by the Congolese army. They have denied involvement in Congo's minerals sector and said any security action taken is to protect its territory. ___
Zawya
24-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Rwanda eyes tourism boom from island parks
Rwanda is eyeing diversified tourism revenue and significant economic growth from its Blue Economy, focusing on its 24 lakes and wetland areas. Senators are pushing for a comprehensive economic assessment of the country's islands to unlock this potential, with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) planning to establish island parks by 2028. However, this ambitious development faces hurdles, including land disputes. Residents of Gihaya in Rusizi and communities on the islands in Burera district claim that some investors have undervalued or not paid them for their land, causing frustration and prolonged disputes. Furthermore, senators have criticised the government for its slow pace in relocating families from disaster-prone islands, which are vulnerable to earthquakes and floods.'There is need for a plan with specific timelines of relocating these people, the budget can come finding a solid plan in place,' said Senator Kanziza Epiphanie. Albert Murasira, the minister in charge of disaster preparedness, acknowledges these challenges, stating that relocation efforts are underway but depend on budget availability.'Budget is a major issue. We have a budget for disaster response; prevention is a different and bigger budget. We work closely with line institutions,' he said. Rwanda's Blue Economy strategy encompasses key sectors such as fisheries, hydropower, lake tourism and transport, all of which are expected to contribute to the country's economic future. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dozens of white rhinos relocated from South Africa to Rwanda
Seventy southern white rhinos have completed a journey of more than 3,400 kilometres (at least 2,112 miles) by truck and Boeing 747 from South Africa to Rwanda in what has been described as the largest translocation of its kind. Part of a rewilding initiative, the rhinos were transported in two groups of 35 – first by airliner then by road – from South Africa's Munywana Conservancy to the Akagera National Park in Rwanda, central Africa's largest protected wetland, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said on Tuesday. 'The final phase of the 3,400km journey involved the rhino being transported by truck in individual steel crates from Munywana to King Shaka International Airport in Durban,' the RDB said. 'They were then carefully loaded by cranes into a Boeing 747, flown to Kigali International Airport, and finally transported to Akagera National Park by road,' it said. The development board said the aim was to eventually rewild more than 2,000 rhinos 'to safe, well-managed protected areas across the continent'. The rhinos were released into the Rwandan park after their two-day journey and a veterinary team will monitor their progress in order to 'manage any stress associated with the move and to ensure each rhino adapts well to its new environment'. Described as 'the first rhino move by air of this scale', the rewilding initiative aims to support population growth for white rhinos and 'secure a new breeding stronghold in Rwanda'. White rhinos were once abundant across sub-Saharan Africa but their numbers have dramatically fallen due to large-scale poaching and hunting during colonial times. According to the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), rhino poaching in Africa rose by 4 percent from 2022 to 2023, with at least 586 rhinos poached in 2023. The southern white rhino, one of two subspecies, is now listed as 'near threatened', with roughly 17,000 individuals remaining, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The northern white rhino is considered critically endangered, with the number of remaining mature adults listed by the IUCN as two at most.
