NBA removes Rwanda army team from Africa league after US sanctions
The NBA has removed the Rwandan army’s basketball team from its African league, citing US sanctions imposed in March. The Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) club, funded by Rwanda’s military, will not take part in the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL). This is the first time the league has explained why APR was dropped.
The decision came after two US senators, Democrat Jeffrey Merkley and Republican Marsha Blackburn, wrote to the NBA on 23 October. They asked how the association could “reconcile its continued partnership with Rwanda with its purported commitment to justice.” The senators gave the NBA until 2 November to respond in writing.
Sanctions and sportswashing concerns
Washington sanctioned Rwanda’s army in March, accusing it of fuelling conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Last week, the US also imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s defence ministry over its support for the M23 rebel group, which has seized large parts of eastern DR Congo. Rwanda denies backing the rebels.
The senators warned the NBA risked “becoming complicit in sportswashing by accepting money from a Rwandan government that systematically abuses human rights.” They asked: “What is the NBA red line for accepting money from foreign governments that commit human rights abuses?” Rwanda is an official BAL partner and pays the league to host finals at the 10,000-seat BK Arena in Kigali. The NBA reportedly receives millions of dollars annually from Rwanda for marketing and partnership rights. APR had represented Rwanda in the BAL in 2024 and 2025, finishing third. It has been replaced by RSSB Tigers this year.
NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said APR “had been withdrawn” from the BAL following the sanctions, according to ESPN. The club will remain barred while US sanctions are in place. DR Congo has repeatedly condemned Rwanda’s sports deals, arguing they help clean up its global image while conflict continues.
