Two American senators have warned that the NBA risks becoming involved in sportswashing through its commercial relationship with Rwanda, questioning why the basketball league continues working with Kigali despite US sanctions and growing concerns over the conflict in eastern DR Congo.
WASHINGTON — October 26, 2026 — Two United States senators from opposing political parties have called on the National Basketball Association (NBA) to reconsider its commercial partnership with Rwanda, citing human rights concerns, the country's involvement in the war in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and changes in Washington's policy toward Kigali.
Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee addressed a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, questioning whether the league's continued relationship with the government of President Paul Kagame is compatible with its stated commitment to human rights.
In their official statement published on October 26, the senators warned that the NBA risks helping Rwanda improve its international image while serious allegations of human rights abuses remain unresolved.
The intervention has brought renewed scrutiny to the relationship between international professional basketball, Rwanda's sports diplomacy and the conflict affecting millions of civilians in eastern Congo.
Senators Raise the Question of Sportswashing
At the center of the senators' concerns is sportswashing, a term used to describe the practice of using major sporting events, sponsorships or partnerships to improve a government's reputation while diverting attention from allegations of misconduct.
Merkley and Blackburn argue that the NBA's business relationship with Rwanda risks creating such an effect.
Their concerns are connected to accusations of political repression under Kagame's government and Rwanda's reported military involvement in eastern DRC.
The senators also questioned how the NBA reconciles its commercial activities with the human rights principles it publicly promotes.
WAR IN EASTERN DRC
US Senators Urge NBA to Review Rwanda Ties Over Congo War
Oct 27, 2026
Oct 27, 2026
8 min read
Published
Updated:
Two American senators have warned that the NBA risks becoming involved in sportswashing through its commercial relationship with Rwanda, questioning why the basketball league continues working with Kigali despite US sanctions and growing concerns over the conflict in eastern DR Congo.
WASHINGTON — October 26, 2026 — Two United States senators from opposing political parties have called on the National Basketball Association (NBA) to reconsider its commercial partnership with Rwanda, citing human rights concerns, the country's involvement in the war in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and changes in Washington's policy toward Kigali.
Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee addressed a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, questioning whether the league's continued relationship with the government of President Paul Kagame is compatible with its stated commitment to human rights.
In their official statement published on October 26, the senators warned that the NBA risks helping Rwanda improve its international image while serious allegations of human rights abuses remain unresolved.
The intervention has brought renewed scrutiny to the relationship between international professional basketball, Rwanda's sports diplomacy and the conflict affecting millions of civilians in eastern Congo.
Senators Raise the Question of Sportswashing
At the center of the senators' concerns is sportswashing, a term used to describe the practice of using major sporting events, sponsorships or partnerships to improve a government's reputation while diverting attention from allegations of misconduct.
Merkley and Blackburn argue that the NBA's business relationship with Rwanda risks creating such an effect.
Their concerns are connected to accusations of political repression under Kagame's government and Rwanda's reported military involvement in eastern DRC.
The senators also questioned how the NBA reconciles its commercial activities with the human rights principles it publicly promotes.
Their letter does not constitute a finding that the NBA has committed wrongdoing. Instead, it demands greater transparency about the league's business decisions and the standards it applies when working with foreign governments.
Why the Congo War Is Central to the Dispute
The lawmakers specifically cited Rwanda's support for the M23 armed movement in eastern DR Congo, where fighting has displaced millions of people and produced widespread allegations of atrocities against civilians.
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These concerns are supported by significant international documentation.
On March 2, 2026, the US Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against the Rwanda Defence Force and four senior military officials.
The Treasury stated that Rwandan forces had supported, trained and fought alongside M23, helping the armed movement seize territory in eastern Congo, including the provincial capitals Goma and Bukavu.
The sanctions represented a significant development in Washington's response to Rwanda's involvement in the conflict.
Rwanda has disputed accusations that it supports M23, while international investigations and US government findings have continued to identify Rwandan military assistance to the armed movement.
For Merkley and Blackburn, the changes in American policy raise questions about whether the NBA should maintain its existing relationship with Kigali.
The NBA Previously Promised to Follow US Policy
This is not the first time the two senators have challenged the basketball league over Rwanda.
In August 2024, Merkley and Blackburn raised concerns about the NBA's relationship with the Rwandan government.
At the time, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum indicated that the league would adjust its business practices if US policy regarding activities in Rwanda changed.
That earlier position has now become a central part of the senators' argument.
Since their first intervention, Washington has imposed sanctions on Rwanda's military, while other Western governments have taken measures against individuals and entities accused of involvement in the eastern Congo conflict.
The senators want the NBA to explain whether these developments meet the threshold for reviewing or ending commercial arrangements.
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Their argument is not simply that the NBA should acknowledge human rights concerns. They are asking the league to explain how those concerns influence its actual business decisions.
Rwanda's Growing Relationship With Professional Basketball
Rwanda has become an important destination for international basketball events, particularly through the NBA-backed Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Kigali has hosted major BAL competitions, while Rwandan officials have promoted the country's sports partnerships as opportunities for tourism, investment, youth development and international visibility.
The commercial relationship extends beyond basketball events.
In September 2025, the Los Angeles Clippers announced a sponsorship agreement with Visit Rwanda, the tourism brand of the Rwanda Development Board.
The agreement made Visit Rwanda the Clippers' jersey-patch sponsor and included promotional activities and basketball development initiatives.
Rwanda's government and its commercial partners have promoted such arrangements as ways to strengthen the country's economy, attract visitors and support sporting opportunities.
However, critics argue that prominent sports sponsorships also provide political and reputational benefits to governments whose human rights records face international scrutiny.
That disagreement lies at the heart of the senators' intervention.
Rwandan Military Basketball Team Withdrawn From BAL
One of the most significant developments cited in the October letter concerns Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball Club (APR), a team associated with Rwanda's Ministry of Defence.
Following the March 2026 US sanctions against the Rwanda Defence Force, APR withdrew from the 2026 Basketball Africa League competition.
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As The Guardian reported in April 2026, the sanctions created potential compliance complications for an NBA-backed competition involving a team connected to Rwanda's military.
The team was replaced by RSSB Tigers.
The episode demonstrated that American sanctions could directly affect participation in a basketball competition while the league's broader commercial relationship with Rwanda continued.
For the two senators, that contrast raises an important question: why have some basketball arrangements changed in response to US sanctions while others remain in place?
Senators Demand Answers by November 2
Merkley and Blackburn have requested a written response from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver by November 2, 2026.
Their letter seeks clarification on the league's standards for accepting money from foreign governments accused of human rights abuses.
The lawmakers also want to know how the NBA plans to advance human rights through the Basketball Africa League and what circumstances would lead it to change or terminate an international partnership.
They specifically ask whether recent US government actions against Rwanda satisfy the league's previously stated policy of adjusting its commercial practices in response to changes in Washington's position.
According to ESPN's October 26 reporting, NBA spokesperson Mike Bass confirmed that the league received the senators' letter and was preparing a response.
The NBA had not announced a termination of its Rwanda partnership at the time of publication.
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