Two United States senators has raised fresh concerns over the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) commercial partnership with Rwanda, urging the league to reconsider its relationship with the country amid worsening conflict and alleged human rights abuses in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a letter dated October 23, 2026, and addressed to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the lawmakers expressed alarm over what they described as the NBA’s deepening relationship with the Rwandan government despite Rwanda’s alleged military involvement in the conflict in eastern DRC.
The senators argued that the partnership risks associating American sports with a government accused of supporting the M23 rebel group, which has been implicated in serious human rights violations.
“The NBA risks becoming complicit in sportswashing by a Rwandan government that systematically abuses human rights,” the letter states, adding that such a relationship is “contrary to the spirit of American sports.”
The lawmakers recalled that they had raised similar concerns in a 2024 letter, questioning the NBA’s partnership with the government of President Paul Kagame over its human rights record and alleged support for armed groups operating in eastern DRC.
They also pointed to an earlier statement by NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, who said in September 2024 that the league’s actions would change if American policies on business activities in Rwanda or other Basketball Africa League (BAL) markets changed.
“If American policies were to change regarding business activities in and relating to Rwanda or any other BAL market, our actions would, of course, change accordingly,” Tatum was quoted as saying.
The senators said that commitment was particularly relevant given subsequent changes in US policy towards Rwanda and mounting international pressure over the conflict in eastern DRC.
