The National Basketball Association (NBA) has confirmed that US sanctions against Rwanda’s military led to the withdrawal of the army-backed Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) basketball club from the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL).
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum disclosed the reason in a response to two United States senators who had questioned the league’s continued commercial relationship with Rwanda despite Washington’s actions against the country.
The NBA had announced earlier in 2026 that APR would not participate in the competition and would be replaced by another Rwandan club. However, it did not initially explain why the team had left the tournament.
Tatum’s response confirmed that the club’s exclusion followed sanctions imposed on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) in March 2026.
He said APR would remain ineligible to compete in the BAL for as long as the sanctions remained in effect.
The disclosure has brought renewed attention to the NBA’s relationship with Rwanda, which continues to host major league events despite mounting international criticism over the conflict in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The NBA’s explanation followed a letter from US Senators Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, and Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee.
In their October 23, 2026 letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the lawmakers questioned the league’s continued commercial relationship with the Rwandan government.
They argued that the NBA risked using its global influence to improve Rwanda’s international image despite allegations of human rights abuses and military involvement in eastern DRC.
“The NBA risks becoming complicit in sportswashing by a Rwandan government that systematically abuses human rights,” the senators wrote.
Merkley and Blackburn asked the league to explain its position by November 2, including how it reconciled its Rwanda partnership with its stated commitment to justice.
They also demanded to know the circumstances under which the NBA would end a commercial relationship with a foreign government accused of human rights violations.
One of their questions was: “What is the NBA red line for accepting money from foreign governments that commit human rights abuses?”
In his response, Tatum confirmed that APR had been withdrawn from the BAL following the US sanctions.
However, he defended the NBA’s broader international operations, arguing that the league follows American government policy when deciding where and how to conduct business.
“Our mission is to inspire and connect people through basketball, both in the United States and more than 200 other countries and territories around the world where we engage with our fans,” Tatum said.
He added that the league adapts its commercial activities to different markets while following US policy.
“Our business around the world is not one-size-fits-all, but in all instances we follow U.S. policy in deciding where and how to operate. And we condemn human rights violations wherever they occur,” he stated.
Tatum further said the NBA would continue adjusting its operations as government policy changed.
“Going forward, we will continue to adjust to changed circumstances as U.S. policy requires,” he said.
However, the response did not directly address all the senators’ questions, particularly their demand for a clear explanation of the league’s threshold for ending commercial partnerships with governments facing human rights allegations.
The United States imposed sanctions on the Rwandan military in March 2026 over its alleged involvement in the conflict in eastern DRC. Washington accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, which has seized control of large parts of eastern Congo.
The conflict has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with civilians facing displacement, violence and widespread insecurity. The US subsequently escalated its measures by imposing additional sanctions on Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence over alleged support for the rebel group.
Rwanda has denied backing M23, rejecting accusations that its military is fuelling the conflict.
The sanctions have also increased scrutiny of Rwanda’s international partnerships, including its commercial relationships with major sports organisations.
APR’s exclusion did not mean Rwanda lost its place in the 2026 BAL.
The Rwanda Basketball Federation announced in March that APR had stepped aside from the competition and designated RSSB Tigers as its replacement.
In its announcement, FERWABA said: “APR Basketball Club, following its decision to step aside from competition, has officially designated RSSB Tigers Basketball Club to represent Rwanda in the upcoming Basketball Africa League (BAL) Season 6.”
The federation backed the replacement club, citing its domestic performances, including victories in the 2025 Rwanda Cup and 2026 Super Cup. RSSB Tigers went on to win the 2026 BAL championship.
APR had represented Rwanda in the continental competition in 2024 and 2025, finishing third in the latter edition.
Despite APR’s withdrawal, the NBA has not ended its wider commercial relationship with Rwanda.
The country remains an official BAL partner and continues to host major competition fixtures, including the playoffs and finals, at the 10,000-seat BK Arena in Kigali.
The BAL, which the NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) established in 2021, brings together 12 club teams from across Africa.
Rwanda has hosted all but one of the league’s playoff and final events since its inaugural season.
