NBA Removes Rwanda Army Team From Africa League
The league barred the army-funded APR club from the 2026 Basketball Africa League after US sanctions on the Rwandan army.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Basketball
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The NBA removed APR, a Rwandan army-funded basketball club, from the 2026 Basketball Africa League following US sanctions imposed on the Rwandan army in March. NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said the team will remain barred while the sanctions remain in place.
Why it matters
The removal follows US accusations that the Rwandan army has fuelled conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and US sanctions on Rwanda's defence ministry over its support for the M23 rebel group. The decision also comes as US senators question the NBA's financial and marketing partnership with Rwanda.
APR finished third in the African league in both 2024 and 2025, and the BK Arena in Kigali, which hosts the BAL finals, seats 10,000. The NBA has not publicly disclosed the value of its Rwanda partnership, and the senators' letter asked for a written response by 2 November.
The players
NBA
The National Basketball Association is the North American professional basketball league that runs the Basketball Africa League partnership.
Mark Tatum
Mark Tatum is the NBA deputy commissioner who announced the APR team's removal and the league's position on the sanctions.
Jeffrey Merkley
Jeffrey Merkley is a US senator from Oregon who co-signed the letter questioning the NBA's partnership with Rwanda.
Marsha Blackburn
Marsha Blackburn is a US senator from Tennessee who co-signed the letter questioning the NBA's partnership with Rwanda.
The details
Senators Jeffrey Merkley and Marsha Blackburn sent the NBA a letter dated 23 October questioning its partnership with Rwanda, which is an official BAL partner that pays the league to host its finals in Kigali. The NBA's response, provided by deputy commissioner Mark Tatum, said the APR was withdrawn following the sanctions, and RSSB Tigers replaced it in the African league.
Timeline
March 2026: US imposes sanctions on the Rwandan army.
23 October 2026: US senators send letter to the NBA about its Rwanda partnership.
2 November 2026: Deadline for the NBA's written response to the senators.
Roadmap
The removal follows US sanctions imposed on the Rwandan army in March 2026, which accused it of fuelling conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It marks a case where a US sports league has acted on sanctions by cutting ties with a state-linked team.
The APR club will not compete in the 2026 Basketball Africa League, which changes the league's team lineup for the season. Fans and teams that track African competition will see RSSB Tigers take APR's place in the field.
The takeaway
Sports partnerships can be affected by government sanctions, even when the league is not directly involved in the dispute. The NBA's decision shows how a single sanctioned team can change a league's roster and public standing.
What happens next
The NBA's written response to senators was due by 2 November, and the APR club will remain barred while US sanctions are in place.
Further reading
For more on league partnerships and competition formats, see Basketball.
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