Rwanda signs 10-year deal to host Formula 1’s return to Africa
publishers 50articles 61first reported 13 Oct, 09:35 UTCdeveloping since 13 Oct · 10 editions
Rwanda will host Formula 1’s first African Grand Prix since 1993 under a 10-year agreement announced Tuesday. The race is planned for the early 2030s at a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of the capital, Kigali.
The event will be called the African Grand Prix and could take place as early as 2030, according to ABC News Australia. Rwanda had pursued a Formula 1 race for several years, and President Paul Kagame formally announced the country’s bid at an FIA gathering in December 2024. The continent’s previous Formula 1 event was the 1993 South African Grand Prix near Johannesburg.
Kagame announced the agreement alongside Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Domenicali called it a “landmark moment,” while Kagame described the deal as a milestone for African fans. South Africa has also pursued a place on the Formula 1 calendar.
The Democratic Republic of Congo opposed the decision, arguing that the event would improve Kagame’s international image despite accusations that Rwanda supports M23 rebels in eastern Congo. The DRC, the United States and United Nations experts have accused Rwanda of backing the group; Rwanda says its security measures respond to threats from armed groups across the border.
Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner urged Formula 1 to seek independent guarantees that financing for the race would not come from conflict-linked minerals or exploitation of Congolese resources. She said the DRC supports South Africa’s rival bid.
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