English Premier League’s team has emblazoned ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo on its kit while the country will pay Arsenal some millions of British pounds which some media speculate as £30 million.
However, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Chief Executive Clare Akamanzi told CNN recently that the amount is less than that without revealing the exact amount.
Since the deal unveiling in May, Western media and politicians have criticised Rwanda for spending a huge amount of dollars on one of the world’s richest teams while many Rwandans are living in poverty and the country receives foreign aid.
The three-year deal aimed at promoting Rwanda’s tourism was officially launched on Sunday at Arsenal FC season debut in which it lost 0-2 Manchester City.
Just a day after the deal took effect, CNN brought out similar critics and now Rwandan Government’s officials and ordinary people are snubbing the media especially via Twitter.
Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Retweeted CNN on Monday stating, “Tell me @CNN, how many countries, including African and developing countries, ‘spend millions of dollars’ to advertise their tourism on your network, which is one of the richest in the world? Have you ever complained? So, please be quiet! #FakeNews.”
The RDB Chief Operations Officer Emmanuel Hategeka tweeted, “@CNN this is #FakeNews! Plse take note: 1. Rwanda’s devt story today speaks to the right choices we have made each yr, 2. Aid has helped us but today only accounts for 16% of our national budget, 3. We generate tourism revenues that support our marketing budget incl #visitrwanda.”
Kim Kamasa, the diplomat in Rwanda’s embassy in Kenya, also tweeted, “Dear @CNN it’s more about value for money not where the money comes from. #Rwanda is investing some money to make more money so that more money can get to more needy people #VisitRwanda.”
More Twitter users including Rwandans and foreigners followed suit with some saying that CNN would not have made the same comments if it had got the Rwanda’s advertising deal that went to Arsenal FC. Others kept explaining that Rwanda is not sponsoring Arsenal as CNN reported but engaged in a beneficial partnership on both sides.
The ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo appears on Arsenal jersey’s left sleeve for the first team, under-23 and Arsenal Women, and be displayed on LED boards at the Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
Under the deal too, players from Arsenal men and women’s teams will be visiting Rwanda and Arsenal’s coaches will be hosting coaching camps to support the development of football in Rwanda. At least 35 million people are expected to view the ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo on every Arsenal’s match day due to the team’s large fan base around the world.
According to Deloitte, Arsenal FC is the sixth largest club in the world while Manchester United and Real Madrid have the top two positions respectively.
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