Rwandan team withdraw from BAL due to reported political tensions with US
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 12.03.26. | 20:30
The side was due to face among other teams, Kenya's Nairobi City Thunder, during this month's Kalahari Conference
Kenya’s Nairobi City Thunder will face a new opponent at this year’s Basketball Africa League (BAL), following the withdrawal of Rwandan side Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) from their Kalahari Conference, due to reported political reasons.
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The Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) on Thursday, 12 March confirmed the rumored withdrawal of the side, which was due to face among other teams, Kenyan giants Thunder, in the aforementioned group phases slated for Friday, 27 March to Sunday, 5 April in Pretoria, South Africa.
In its communication, FERWABA gave no explanation as to why APR pulled out of the competition, but officially designated RSSB Tigers as their replacements.
“RSSB Tigers earned this opportunity following an outstanding domestic season, having secured both the 2025 Rwanda Cup and the 2026 Super Cup, demonstrating their competitive excellence and readiness to compete at the continental level,” FERWABA said in their press release.
RSSB Tigers Basketball Club has been officially designated to represent Rwanda in BAL Season 6. pic.twitter.com/xbryJ9c7nr
— FERWABA 🏀🇷🇼 (@ferwabaRW) March 12, 2026
According to various sources, the decision by APR to withdraw from the tournament is as a result of simmering tensions between the US and Rwanda, following the recent US sanctions on the Rwandan army and its senior commanders, for their alleged role in the conflict in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
APR, which as per its full name represents the Rwandan national army, is reported to have seen its representation especially in a tournament operated in partnership with the NBA, directly impacted by the sanctions.
🇷🇼 APR BBC won’t participate in the BAL due to political tensions betweet USA and Rwanda. pic.twitter.com/TP0ni5rLJB
— X BALL AFRICA (@xballafrica) March 11, 2026
APR, founded in 1993 by the Rwandan Patriotic Front, was this year poised to enter its third consecutive BAL season, and in 2025 reached its biggest highs in the competition by finishing in third-place.
RSSB Tigers, on the other hand, are now set to become the fourth different team from Rwanda to qualify for the Basketball Africa League.
In the Kalahari Conference, Tigers join the aforementioned Thunder, South Africa’s Johannesburg Giants, Angola’s Petro de Luanda, Libya’s Al Ahly Libya, and Dar City of Tanzania in the group phase.
Only eight teams from across the Kalahari and Sahara conferences will qualify for the Playoffs and Finals at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda from Friday, 22 to Sunday, 31 May.