NBA Exits Rwanda Partnership Citing US Sanctions

The National Basketball Association has confirmed it removed Rwanda's army team from the Basketball Africa League due to US sanctions imposed on the country in March. NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum stated that the Rwandan team had been withdrawn following the sanctions. The league said the club will remain barred from the BAL while the sanctions stay in place.

The NBA disclosed this reasoning in response to a letter from US Senators Jeffrey Merkley and Marsha Blackburn. The lawmakers, one Democrat and one Republican, sent the letter on October 23, 2026. They gave the association until November 2, 2026, to provide a written response regarding its continued partnership with Rwanda. The senators questioned how the NBA could maintain ties with a government they said systematically abuses human rights.

Merkley and Blackburn warned that the NBA risked becoming complicit in sportswashing by accepting money from the Rwandan government. They asked the league to identify its red line for accepting funds from foreign governments involved in human rights abuses. The letter also asked the NBA to reconcile its partnership with Rwanda against its stated commitment to justice.

Rwanda is an official partner of the BAL and pays the league to host its finals and playoff matches. The events are held at the 10,000-seat BK Arena in the capital, Kigali. The NBA reportedly receives millions of dollars annually from the country for marketing and partnership rights. Rwanda has hosted all but one of the league's final and playoff matches since the inaugural match in 2021.

The United States placed sanctions on the Rwandan army in March, accusing it of fueling the 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. The M23 has seized control of large parts of eastern DR Congo. Rwanda denies backing the rebels, a position the US contests based on evidence.

The Armed Forces of Rwanda, known as the Armee Patriotique Rwandaise, is one of the country's top basketball teams. The club represented Rwanda in the BAL in 2024 and 2025. It finished third in the 2025 season. The RSSB Tigers replaced the APR in the league this year. The BAL is a professional pan-African league featuring 12 club teams. It is established and co-organized by the NBA and FIBA, the basketball world governing body.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has repeatedly condemned Rwanda's high-profile international sports deals. These include partnerships with the NBA, European football clubs, and Formula 1. DR Congo argues that these deals help Rwanda clean up its global image while the conflict continues in eastern DR Congo. The BBC has asked Rwanda for comment.