The NBA has said it will maintain its partnership with Rwanda despite concerns raised by two US senators, reaffirming its commitment to working with the country while following US government policies.
The position was outlined in a written response from NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum to Senators Jeff Merkley and Marsha Blackburn, who had questioned the league’s continued relationship with Rwanda. The response was reported on November 3, 2026.
Tatum explained that the NBA follows US government policy in its international business activities and would make changes when required. He also reaffirmed the league’s position against human rights violations.
The response followed an October 26 letter from the two senators, who asked the NBA to reconsider its relationship with Rwanda over concerns about the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and allegations of human rights abuses.
The lawmakers questioned whether the partnership remained consistent with the NBA’s previous commitment to adjust its business activities when US government policies changed.
They also asked whether the league intended to continue working with Rwanda after sanctions imposed on the Rwanda Defence Force earlier this year.
Tatum explained that the NBA had already taken steps to comply with those sanctions, pointing to the withdrawal of APR Basketball Club from the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL).
The club, which is associated with the Rwanda Defence Force, withdrew from the competition in March following the sanctions.
According to the NBA’s response, APR will remain ineligible to participate in the BAL while the relevant US sanctions remain in place.
However, the league did not announce any decision to end its wider partnership with Rwanda.
Kigali remains an important basketball destination
Rwanda has played a major role in the development of the Basketball Africa League since the competition began in 2021.
Kigali has hosted several major BAL events, including playoffs and finals at BK Arena, helping attract international teams, supporters and basketball officials to the country.
In June 2023, the Rwanda Development Board and the Basketball Africa League extended their partnership through a multi-year agreement covering basketball competitions, tourism promotion and youth development.
Under the agreement, Kigali was selected to host BAL games every season, including the playoffs and finals in 2024, 2026 and 2028.
The partnership also supports Rwanda’s efforts to promote tourism through the Visit Rwanda initiative, while RwandAir serves as an official airline partner of the competition.
Beyond hosting matches, the cooperation includes activities aimed at developing young basketball players and supporting communities through sport.
The continued partnership comes during a successful period for Rwandan basketball.
In May 2026, RSSB Tigers made history by becoming the first Rwandan club to win the Basketball Africa League.
The team defeated Angola’s Petro de Luanda 90-88 in the final played at BK Arena in Kigali.
RSSB Tigers had entered the competition after APR withdrew, giving the club an opportunity to represent Rwanda in Africa’s leading basketball club tournament.
The team’s victory was an important achievement for local basketball and demonstrated the growing competitiveness of Rwandan clubs on the continental stage.
The 2026 BAL season also recorded more than 110,000 spectators across its matches, while the league reported over 1.1 billion views on social media.
These results illustrate the growing audience for African basketball and the opportunities available to countries hosting international sporting competitions.
The latest exchange followed renewed concerns from Senators Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, and Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee.
The two lawmakers had previously questioned the NBA’s partnership with Rwanda in 2024.
In their latest letter, they argued that changes in US foreign policy required the league to explain why its relationship with Rwanda remained unchanged.
Their concerns included allegations that Rwanda supports the M23 armed group operating in eastern DRC.
Rwanda has repeatedly denied supporting M23 and maintained that its security concerns, including the threat posed by the FDLR armed group, must also be addressed.
The senators also questioned whether the NBA’s commercial activities were consistent with its stated commitment to human rights.
Their letter came shortly before the United States announced additional sanctions against Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and Zigama Credit and Savings Society on October 28.
The US Treasury accused the two institutions of supporting M23 and activities linked to the conflict in eastern DRC.
Rwanda rejected the allegations and reaffirmed its willingness to implement the Washington peace agreements, while calling for the DRC to fulfil its commitments.
The NBA maintained that its international business activities would continue to follow applicable US policies.
What the decision means for Rwanda
The NBA’s latest position maintains its wider cooperation with Rwanda while keeping restrictions on APR Basketball Club under the current US sanctions.
For Rwanda, the partnership remains important to its efforts to develop basketball, attract international competitions and promote the country as a destination for sports events.
The existing agreement between the Rwanda Development Board and the BAL includes plans for Kigali to host the competition’s playoffs and finals again in 2028.
No cancellation of those arrangements has been announced following the latest exchange between the NBA and US lawmakers.
However, the league has indicated that its future business decisions will continue to depend on applicable US government policies.
For now, Rwanda remains a partner in the NBA’s development of basketball across Africa, while the restrictions affecting APR remain in place.
Elie GATETE
RADIOTV10