Rwanda's military basketball team has been pulled from the Basketball Africa League following US sanctions targeting the country's army over its involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The NBA, which oversees the league, confirmed the decision.
The sanctions were imposed by the United States in response to Rwanda's army and its alleged role in the ongoing fighting in eastern DRC, a crisis that has drawn increasing international attention and pressure on Kigali.
The Basketball Africa League has been one of the continent's most watched sports developments in recent years, making this removal a significant moment, one that shows how geopolitics can reach all the way into the arena. What this means for Rwandan athletes caught in the middle is a question worth watching closely.
Originally published by BBC Africa.