# NBA bars Rwanda’s APR from African league under US sanctions

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/rwandas-army-team-removed-from-africa-league-after-us-sanctions-nba-says/
- Published: 2026-11-04T10:19:41+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T11:39:14+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC World (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c699zdx9knmpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Africa, Americas, Basketball, Geopolitics, Politics, Sport, World

## Key points

- NBA says US sanctions led to APR’s removal from the 2026 league.
- APR will remain barred while the sanctions are in place.
- Rwanda denies supporting M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo.

## Summary

The NBA says it removed Rwanda’s army-funded APR basketball team from the 2026 Basketball Africa League because of US sanctions imposed on Rwanda’s army in March. The decision follows pressure from two US senators, who questioned whether the NBA’s partnership with Rwanda could lend credibility to a government accused of supporting conflict and human rights abuses.

NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said APR will remain barred while the sanctions are in place. The US accused Rwanda’s army of fuelling fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo and later sanctioned Rwanda’s defence ministry over alleged support for the M23 rebel group; Rwanda denies backing the rebels. APR finished third in the league in 2025, and was replaced this year by the RSSB Tigers.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.