Mark Fainaru-Wada

Oct 26, 2026, 11:53 AM ET

Two U.S. senators called on the NBA to reevaluate a partnership with Rwanda and its dictator Paul Kagame, citing the American government's changing policy toward the small African nation, which has been accused of widespread human rights abuses.

In a letter sent Friday to commissioner Adam Silver, Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., wrote that they are "increasingly alarmed by the NBA's deepening relationship with Rwanda" and said the league "risks becoming complicit in sportswashing," where governments or companies use sports to distract from human rights abuses, corruption and other activities.…