NBA says US sanctions forced Rwanda’s army team out of African league
The NBA says Rwanda's army-funded APR club was withdrawn from the 2026 Basketball Africa League because of US sanctions imposed in March. The club stays barred while the sanctions remain in place.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has explained why it dropped Rwanda's army team from the Basketball Africa League (BAL). It blamed US sanctions placed on the Rwandan army in March. The NBA had already said Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) would not play in the 2026 season. Until now, it had not said why. NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum gave the reason in a reply to two US senators, the American sports website ESPN reported. Tatum said the team "was withdrawn" from the BAL and would remain "ineligible" to compete. According to The Star, the NBA said APR would stay barred for as long as the US sanctions are in place. Tatum also said the NBA follows US policy when deciding where and how to operate around the world. He said the association condemns human rights violations "wherever they occur", according to ESPN. The senators wrote to the NBA on October 23. Democratic Senator Jeffrey Merkley and Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn gave the league until November 2 to reply in writing. They said the NBA risked "becoming complicit in sportswashing" by taking money from the Rwandan…
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