NBA drops Rwanda team over sanctions
The league confirmed the removal of the Rwandan army club after pressure from two US senators and new trade restrictions.
By Austin Reed ·
The National Basketball Association officially removed Rwanda’s army-backed basketball club from the Basketball Africa League on Wednesday, citing US sanctions imposed in March. The league had previously stated that the Armée Patriotique Rwandaise, or APR, would not play in the 2026 season, but this marks the first time it has disclosed the specific cause of the decision.
The move follows a letter dated October 23 from Democratic Senator Jeffrey Merkley and Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn. The pair gave the NBA until November 2 to explain its continued partnership with the Rwandan team. In their correspondence, the senators argued that the association risked becoming complicit in sportswashing by accepting funds from a government that systematically abuses human rights.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum responded by confirming that the APR team had been withdrawn following the sanctions enacted earlier this year. The league stated that the club will remain barred from the BAL as long as the US sanctions are in effect.
The US government imposed sanctions on the Rwandan army in March, accusing it of fuelling the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Last week, Washington expanded these measures to include Rwanda’s defence ministry over its support for the M23 rebel group. This group has seized control of large parts of eastern DR Congo, a claim Rwanda denies despite what it calls overwhelming evidence.
Rwanda serves as an official BAL partner and pays the league to host its finals at the 10,000-seat BK Arena in Kigali. The country has hosted every league final and playoff match since 2021, with the exception of one. The NBA reportedly receives millions of dollars annually for marketing and partnership rights from Rwanda.
The APR was a top team in the region, representing the country in the 2024 and 2025 BAL seasons and finishing in third place last year. It has been replaced this season by the RSSB Tigers. The BAL is a professional pan-African league co-organized by the NBA and Fiba, featuring 12 club teams.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has repeatedly criticized Rwanda’s international sports deals, including partnerships with the NBA, European football clubs, and Formula 1. The government argues these arrangements help clean up Rwanda’s global image while the conflict in eastern DR Congo continues. The BBC has asked Rwanda for comment on the NBA’s decision.
