Rwanda's army team removed from Africa league after US sanctions, NBA says

Published4 November 2026, 10:19 GMT

The National Basketball Association (NBA) says it removed Rwanda's army team from its African league because of US sanctions imposed on the country in March.

The NBA had previously said the Rwandan army-funded Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) club would not participate in the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL).

However this is the first time the NBA has revealed the reasons behind the APR's removal.

The association was responding to complaints by two US senators, who sent a letter asking them to reconsider their partnership with the Rwandan team. The US placed sanctions on the Rwandan army, accusing it of fuelling the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo in March.

The senators said the NBA risked "becoming complicit in sportswashing by accepting money from a Rwandan government that systematically abuses human rights".

Last week, the US also imposed sanctions on Rwanda's defence ministry over its support for the M23 rebel group which has seized control of large parts of eastern DR Congo. Rwanda denies backing the rebels despite overwhelming evidence.

Rwanda is an official BAL partner and pays the league to host its finals at the 10,000-seat BK Arena in the capital, Kigali.

The BBC has asked Rwanda for comment.

What is the Basketball Africa League?

• Published14 May 2021

What is the Basketball Africa League?

Published14 May 2021

The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo

• Published29 January 2025

The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo

Published29 January 2025

In the letter to the NBA dated 23 October, Democratic Senator Jeffrey Merkley and Republican counterpart Marsha Blackburn gave the association until 2 November to give a written response regarding its continued partnership with Rwanda.

"What is the NBA red line for accepting money from foreign governments that commit human rights abuses?" the senators asked.

Among other queries, they also questioned how the association could "reconcile its continued partnership with Rwanda with its purported commitment to justice".

In its response, NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said the Rwandan team "had been withdrawn" from the BAL following the sanctions imposed earlier in the year, American sports website ESPN reports.

The NBA said the APR basketball club would remain barred while the US sanctions are in place.

The APR is one of Rwanda's top basketball teams and represented the country in the BAL in 2024 and 2025, when it came third. It was replaced by the RSSB Tigers this year.

The BAL is a pan-African basketball league established and co-organised by the NBA and the basketball's world governing body Fiba.

It is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across the continent.

Rwanda has hosted all but one of the league's final and playoff matches since the inaugural match in 2021.

The NBA reportedly receives millions of dollars annually from the country for the marketing and partnership rights.

DR Congo has repeatedly condemned Rwanda's high-profile international sports deals, including with the NBA, European football clubs and Formula 1, asking them to end their campaigns.

It argues that these help Rwanda clean up its global image, while the conflict continues in eastern DR Congo.

You may also be interested in:

What's the fighting in DR Congo all about?

• Published5 December 2025

What's the fighting in DR Congo all about?

Published5 December 2025

Your phone, a rare metal and the war in DR Congo

• Published5 February 2025

Your phone, a rare metal and the war in DR Congo

Published5 February 2025

Villa warned over sportswashing after Visit Rwanda deal

• Published14 July

Villa warned over sportswashing after Visit Rwanda deal

Published14 July

Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external

Related topics

Africa

Rwanda

Democratic Republic of Congo

BBC Africa podcasts

Focus on Africa

Focus on Africa

This Is Africa

This Is Africa