Basketball, which for years has languished in football’s shadow, has gained a foothold on the continent since the NBA-backed BAL was founded in 2019.

The move comes as the gold mining giant seeks to move its operations from what it sees as risky regions.

The West African nation has been engulfed in political turmoil for weeks, but the new government is an attempt to plot a path out of a daunting debt crisis.

The announcement follows weeks of war, though it was unclear if Hezbollah would agree to the truce terms.