NBA Removes Rwandan Army Team From BAL Following US Sanctions

The National Basketball Association has officially removed the Rwandan army club from the Basketball Africa League. The decision follows US sanctions imposed on the Rwandan military in March. The NBA confirmed the move after a deadline passed last week without a written response from the league to two US senators.

Democratic Senator Jeffrey Merkley and Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn sent a letter to the NBA on October 23. They demanded a written response by November 2 regarding the league's continued partnership with Rwanda. The senators argued that accepting funds from the Rwandan government risked making the NBA complicit in sportswashing. They cited the government's systematic abuse of human rights as a key concern.

US authorities placed sanctions on the Rwandan army in March, accusing it of fuelling conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Last week, the US extended those sanctions to Rwanda's defence ministry. The move followed the ministry's alleged support for the M23 rebel group, which controls large parts of eastern DR Congo. Rwanda denies backing the rebels despite evidence to the contrary.

NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum stated that the Armee Patriotique Rwandaise, or APR, had been withdrawn from the league. The APR will remain barred from the BAL as long as the US sanctions stay in place. The team previously represented Rwanda in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, finishing third in 2025. The RSSB Tigers replaced the APR for the current year.

Rwanda serves as an official partner of the BAL. The country pays the league to host finals at the 10,000-seat BK Arena in Kigali. The NBA reportedly receives millions of dollars annually from these marketing and partnership rights. Rwanda has hosted all but one of the league's final and playoff matches since the tournament began in 2021.

The BAL is a professional pan-African league co-organised by the NBA and Fiba, the world governing body for basketball. It features 12 club teams from across the continent. The DR Congo has repeatedly condemned Rwanda's international sports deals with the NBA, European football clubs, and Formula 1. It argues these partnerships help Rwanda improve its global image while the conflict in eastern DR Congo continues.

The BBC has asked Rwanda for comment on the NBA's decision. The league previously stated the APR would not participate in the 2026 BAL without giving a reason. This announcement marks the first time the NBA has publicly linked the exclusion to the US sanctions.