TAKE ACTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

ASK THE NBA: HELP STOP RISING VIOLENCE IN THE DRC

People in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are experiencing a catastrophic human rights and humanitarian crisis, as M23, an armed group backed by Rwandan forces, continues to abuse civilians despite an agreed ceasefire and a signed peace agreement.

Last spring, hundreds of Amnesty supporters urged NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to conduct thorough human rights due diligence around the NBA’s partnership with Rwanda. The NBA declined. In response to Amnesty, the NBA said it follows "the lead of the U.S. government" on where it does business. Even after a Rwandan Basketball Africa League team withdrew due to U.S. sanctions, the NBA refused to meet with Amnesty to discuss concerns

Now, we’re calling on the NBA to publicly disclose whether it has conducted meaningful due diligence on its partnership with Rwanda — and confirm that no part of the money that Rwanda pays to the NBA comes from illicit funds acquired in eastern DRC that involve human rights abuses.

The NBA claims to support social justice. It must be held accountable for who it partners with.

Act now: send a letter to Commissioner Silver demanding answers!

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Dear Commissioner Silver,

Despite Amnesty International, other human rights organizations, and members of Congress writing to you regarding our concerns around the NBA's partnership with the Rwandan government, we are not aware of any meaningful human rights due diligence actions taken by the NBA to ensure its partnership has no ties to illicit minerals.

The evidence is clear: The Rwandan government has admitted to collaborating with the abusive March 23 Movement (M23) armed group that controls a large part of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Despite this admission, as well as the U.S. government imposing sanctions on Rwanda this year for this reason, the NBA has not publicly committed to reexamining its policies. It has not  publicly demonstrated that its partnership with the Rwandan government as part of the Basketball Africa League and its lucrative sponsorship deal signed between the LA Clippers and the Rwandan government to promote "Visit Rwanda" is not tainted by revenue from illicit minerals mined in DRC.

Last year, Mr. Mark Tatum, the NBA deputy commissioner, sent Amnesty International a letter stating that the NBA follows "the lead of the U.S. government as to where it's appropriate to engage in business around the world." On March 2, 2026, the U.S. State Department imposed sanctions on the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) and four senior RDF officers who directly supported M23 and its affiliates in eastern DRC. Moreover, the US government publicly stated that M23 is responsible for "horrific human rights abuses," and the RDF's support enabled it to capture sovereign DRC territory and commit abuses. If the NBA follows the US government's lead on these matters, it should scrutinize its business relationships accordingly and demonstrate that this relationship follows human rights standards.

Amnesty International and other organizations have documented human rights abuses committed by M23 in eastern DRC including extrajudicial executions, torture, gang rape and forced recruitment that may amount to war crimes. Amnesty International also determined that Rwanda's provision of critical combat support and the RDF's active role in the conduct of hostilities means that the Rwandan government has overall control of M23. In addition, the United Nations has documented that coltan illegally extracted from the Rubaya mine in eastern DRC has benefited Rwanda’s economy.

The United States took significant legal measures against the Rwandan Defense Force and persons in Rwanda committing abuses in DRC, prompting one Rwandan team in the Basketball Africa League to cease to participate in the 2026 season. Despite these developments, the NBA seems to prefer to ignore the actions of the US government toward Rwanda and act like it is business as usual. The NBA is failing to uphold one of its guiding principles, which states that it is "prepared to adapt to any changes that occur" based on U.S. guidance. 
 
The NBA is violating its core value of "leading with integrity" regarding the absence of due diligence when it comes to partnering with the Rwandan government. The NBA's unwillingness to publicly examine its own practices undermines its stated goals of being "honest, ethical, and fair," and its canned responses and inaction demonstrate a lack of genuine desire to confirm that the money it receives from the Government of Rwanda does not come at the cost of Congolese lives.

The NBA owes it to its fans, its players, and its global brand to do the right thing and put people over profit. It must demonstrate that it has done the necessary due diligence to ensure that in light of these recent findings and developments, the NBA does not profit from this conflict.  
 
Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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