Rwanda's army team removed from Africa league after US sanctions, NBA says
The US imposed sanctions on Rwanda's army over its role in the conflict in DR Congo.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has removed Rwanda's army team, the Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR), from the Basketball Africa League (BAL) due to US sanctions imposed on the country in March. This is the first time the NBA has disclosed the reasons behind APR's removal, following complaints from two US senators. The sanctions were imposed due to accusations that the Rwandan army was fueling conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The senators argued that the NBA risked becoming complicit in sportswashing by partnering with a Rwandan government accused of human rights abuses. The NBA has stated that APR's removal is effective immediately while the sanctions remain in place.
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