Skip to main content

[Rwanda Forum] Senators ask NBA about Rwanda relationship - ESPN


Senators ask NBA about Rwanda relationship - ESPN

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41014291/senators-ask-nba-rwanda-relationship

Senators ask NBA about Rwanda relationship

play
How the NBA got into business with an African dictator (1:21)
How the NBA got into business with an African dictator (1:21)

  • Mark Fainaru-Wada, ESPN Staff WriterAug 27, 2024, 12:03 PM ET

Two U.S. senators sent a letter Tuesday to NBA commissioner Adam Silver accusing the league of "putting profit over principle," in response to an ESPN story that detailed the NBA's extensive relationship with Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame.

The bipartisan letter, signed by Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), says the NBA "has long positioned itself as a beacon of social justice" but instead has continued "developing relationships with dictators and despots" such as Kagame.

The senators cited an ESPN article published last month that described how the NBA built a relationship with Kagame that, on the one hand, was central to launching its first league outside of North America, the Basketball Africa League, but, on the other, forced the NBA to look past persistent human rights abuses far worse than those it opposes at home.

In the letter, the senators wrote that, "Anyone who dares to question Kagame's rule -- whether it be opposition candidates or the free press -- is jailed, disappeared or brutally murdered." In addition, the senators questioned the NBA's business in China, which ESPN previously investigated.

The senators asked Silver to respond within one week to a series of questions. They want Silver to "outline the scope of the NBA's relationship with the Rwandan government" and to describe the steps the league is taking to improve the lives of Rwandan people, "including those subject to human rights abuses" by Kagame's regime.

Kagame has been Rwanda's president since 2000; last month, he was reelected with 99% of the vote.

NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum previously told ESPN: "The conversations that we've had with Paul Kagame have all been about improving the lives of Rwandan people. How can we create, how can we inspire and connect people through the game of basketball to make Rwandan peoples' lives better."

The senators concluded their letter to Silver by saying, "Playing ball with dictators and brutal regimes should not be the NBA's business model. Instead, the league should use its influence to advocate for governance reforms, including respect for the rule of law."


###
"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence", George Washington.
###

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

[Rwanda Forum] Who is Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, the butcher of Southport, UK?

   If Axel Muganwa Rudakubana had been a son of a Hutu, what would have been the news headlines in Kagame's mouthpiece tabloids? Since Axel Rudakubana's parents are Tutsi genocide survivors, and his father, Alphonse Rudakubana, is a nephew of Wellars Gasamagera, the Secretary General of Rwanda's ruling party - RPF, the tragedy that occurred in the UK has not been mentioned by any tabloids or news outlets in Rwanda. However, had Axel Muganwa Rudakubana been a child of a Hutu, or a child of a Tutsi opposition figure, we can all guess the type of headline that would have appeared in the tabloid controlled by Criminal Paul Kagame. But now, they remain silent on this despicable tragedy. FYI... ICYIHISHE INYUMA Y'UMUSORE W'UMUNYARWANDA WISHE ABANA BATATU MU BWONGEREZA. https://youtu.be/OuPMqdxYrvs?si=vF24-X-nZdIlDcNC ### "Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence", George Washington. ###
Post a Comment
Read more

[Rwanda Forum] Kagame Family Business Link in Sober Living Homes Mafia With Senior RDF Officers and U.S.-Based Network.

 Kagame Family Business Link in Sober Living Homes Mafia With Senior RDF Officers and U.S.-Based Network. 🇷🇼 Kagame Family Business Link in Sober Living Homes Mafia With Senior RDF Officers and U.S.-Based Network 🟢 2. Key Individuals Involved Willy Rwagasana: Major General and head of the Republican Guard in Rwanda. Allegedly finances the operations from Rwanda. Aline Rwagasana: Serge Ndayizeye (@Sergiondayi) x.com 🇷🇼 Kagame Family Business Link in Sober Living Homes Mafia With Senior RDF Officers and U.S.-Based Network 🟢 2. Key Individuals Involved Willy Rwagasana: Major General and head of the Republican Guard in Rwanda. Allegedly finances the operations from Rwanda. Aline Rwagasana: His sister, reportedly managing operations on the ground in Arizona. Kassim Ntagerura: Aline's husband, described as the key broker or intermediary in the scheme. 📍 Together, this trio is said to own more than eight properties in Phoenix, Arizona, used in a network of sober living h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fwd: [Rwanda Forum] Kagame aritegura gupfa. Ashaje yanduranya cyane !

Kagame aritegura gupfa. Ashaje yanduranya cyane !   Ibimenyesto ni byinshi. Asigaye avuga Imana ariko yanageraho akayivugira ibitaribyo, akayibeshyera, akavuga abo atashimiye yabajyana mu muriro utazima.   Asigaye yiyambaza Imana kuko abona ko byarangiye, ubuzima burimo ku mucika. Imyaka ibaye myinshi  asuzugira amadini n'abaykorera, yarerekana ko amadini ntacyo amaze, ko ahubwo yakoze genocide. Ko amadini nta terambere yazanye mu Rwanda, ko byose u Rwanda rufite rwatangiriye kuri we. Hakiyongera no kwishimira ko yishe abanyarwanda kuko ibyo ahora abishimangira mu ruhame.  Mwese ntimuyobewe abanyamadini bishwe na Kagame. Ibyo byose Kagame yumva Imana yarabyibagiwe. Biyo nta kabuza azajya mu ijuru. Kagame rero agomba kuba azi ko iminsi ye ibaze. Amaze kubona ko Imana ntaho yayihungira ku bibi yakoreye abanyarwanda. It's too little too late !   -- ________________________________________________________________ -Ushobora kohereza mess...
Post a Comment
Read more