NBA Bars Rwanda’s Army Team From African Basketball League

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has confirmed that Rwanda's army-backed basketball team, Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR), was removed from the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) because of United States sanctions imposed on the country.

The decision follows sanctions announced by Washington in March against the Rwandan military over its alleged involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

The NBA had earlier announced that APR would not participate in the 2026 competition but had not publicly explained the reasons behind its exclusion until now.

According to reports by ESPN, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum disclosed the decision in a response to two United States senators who questioned the league's continued partnership with Rwanda.

Democratic Senator Jeffrey Merkley and Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn had written to the NBA on October 23, requesting clarification on its relationship with the Rwandan government.

The lawmakers expressed concerns that the association's partnership with Rwanda could amount to sportswashing, accusing the government of human rights abuses and supporting armed groups in eastern DR Congo.

They also questioned how the NBA could maintain its relationship with Rwanda while promoting its commitment to justice and human rights.

In its response, Tatum said APR had been withdrawn from the Basketball Africa League following the sanctions imposed earlier in the year.

The NBA also indicated that the club would remain excluded for as long as the US sanctions remain in place.

APR is one of Rwanda's leading basketball clubs and represented the country in the BAL in 2024 and 2025, finishing third in the latter edition.

The team was replaced by the RSSB Tigers in the 2026 competition.

The development comes amid growing international pressure on Rwanda over the conflict in eastern DR Congo, where the M23 rebel group has seized control of large territories.

The United States has accused Rwanda's military of supporting the rebels, an allegation Kigali has repeatedly denied.

Washington also imposed additional sanctions on Rwanda's Defence Ministry over its alleged support for the M23 movement.

Meanwhile, Rwanda remains an official partner of the Basketball Africa League and pays to host the competition's finals at the 10,000-capacity BK Arena in Kigali.

The NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) jointly established the BAL, a professional competition featuring 12 club teams from across Africa.

Since the league's inaugural season in 2021, Rwanda has hosted most of its finals and playoff matches.

However, DR Congo has repeatedly criticised Rwanda's international sports partnerships, arguing that they help improve the country's global image despite the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.

The NBA's decision to exclude APR represents a significant development in the growing debate over the relationship between international sports organisations and governments facing sanctions over alleged human rights violations.