Formula One will return to Africa for the first time in more than three decades after Rwanda signed a 10-year deal to host the race. The event will take place at a new purpose-built track in Bugesera, south of Kigali. F1 said the first race will happen once the circuit has been completed, targeting the early 2030s. The deal was announced in Kigali on October 13.
The last time F1 raced in Africa was the South African Grand Prix in 1993. F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali called it a landmark moment, noting that with Rwanda on the calendar the sport will race on every inhabited continent.
A long campaign
President Paul Kagame announced Rwanda’s bid in December 2024, when the FIA held its general assemblies in Kigali. F1 chiefs confirmed talks in August, with Domenicali calling Rwanda a “serious” option. Lewis Hamilton has been one of the loudest advocates for an African race. At the Singapore Grand Prix, he said he had always argued for a Grand Prix in Africa.
For the tourism sector, the pitch goes beyond racing. Domenicali framed the deal as being about economic and social benefits through tourism and investment. Rwanda has spent years building its profile as a destination for events, conferences and high-value travel, and a Grand Prix would sit at the top of that strategy.
The sportswashing debate
The announcement has drawn strong criticism. Amnesty International accused F1 of handing Rwanda a “sportswashing prize”. The group pointed to Rwanda’s earlier deals with Arsenal, Aston Villa and the cycling world championships.
Human Rights Watch has documented restrictions on political opposition, independent media and dissent under Kagame, and has warned that the race could put journalists and vulnerable communities at risk. It has also documented the detention of homeless people and street vendors ahead of large events. It has urged F1 to carry out a thorough human rights risk assessment and consult civil society before proceeding.
The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is a second flashpoint. UN experts have documented Rwandan military support for M23 rebels, who have seized territory in eastern DRC. Rwanda disputes the allegations. DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner called F1’s decision morally indefensible. Amnesty’s Kate Hixon has urged F1 to publish its due diligence findings, including on any links between Rwandan funding and minerals from conflict areas.
F1 has not explained how it assessed potential hosts or how human rights concerns factored into the choice.
What happens next
F1 has not announced a calendar date. It says only that the target is the early years of the next decade. That leaves plenty of time for construction, and for the pressure on F1 to build.
