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NBA bars Rwanda’s APR from African league under US sanctions
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.
In short
- 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.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The NBA can argue that continuing to include an army-funded team while US sanctions are in force could undermine those sanctions and make the league appear to legitimise an institution accused of supporting armed conflict. Suspending APR also responds to concerns raised by US lawmakers and gives the league a clear, consistent way to avoid lending its platform to a sanctioned organisation.
The case against
Rwanda and APR supporters can argue that the sanctions concern allegations against state institutions, which Rwanda denies, and should not automatically determine the participation of a basketball team. Excluding APR, a leading club that qualified through competition, may penalise its players and supporters for disputes they cannot control and risks making sport an instrument of political pressure.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Rwanda’s army team removed from Africa league after US sanctions, NBA says”.