Kigali: Formula 1 is set to make its long-awaited return to Africa after securing a 10-year agreement to hold a Grand Prix in Rwanda, starting early in the next decade once a purpose-built circuit is completed near the capital.

The historic announcement marks the culmination of an ambitious campaign led by Rwandan President Paul Kagame to bring motor racing's premier series back to the continent for the first time since 1993.

A continental milestone

The new circuit will be constructed in Bugesera, roughly 40 kilometres (25 miles) southeast of Kigali, situated near a new international airport currently under construction. According to F1, the track will "work in harmony with the natural landscape," leveraging the region’s rolling terrain to create technical elevation changes for drivers.

"This partnership is long overdue," Kagame said at a launch event in Kigali, Rwanda's capital. "But it is a success and a milestone for the entire continent, especially for the African fans. Ultimately, what we want is for the African Grand Prix to pave the way for other races to be hosted on the continent."

The return fulfills a career-long crusade for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who turns 41 this year and has spent seasons advocating behind the scenes for an African race.

"Today is a landmark moment for Formula 1," F1 President and chief executive Stefano Domenicali said. "With Rwanda joining the calendar from the next decade our sport will race in every inhabited continent, bringing the world championship closer than ever to fans around the globe."

Also read: Why F1 races under floodlights at Marina Bay: The tech and timing behind Singapore GP 

Economic vision & sportswashing scrutiny

Rwanda becomes the first entirely new host nation confirmed for the F1 calendar since Qatar and Saudi Arabia joined in 2021. With a GDP per capita of just over $1,100, Rwanda’s inclusion stands out alongside glamorous host destinations like Monaco, Miami, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi.

Under Kagame, the nation has aggressively leveraged sports diplomacy—sponsoring elite European football clubs, partnering with the NBA's Basketball Africa League, and hosting the UCI Road World Championships—to project a forward-looking image following the 1994 genocide.

  • Infrastructure Goals: Government officials intend to use the event to expand tourism, diversify revenues, and build local sports architecture.

  • Local Sentiment: "Look, our country will be watched on the global stage. And this comes with investments and creations of jobs, especially for the youth," said Betty Mukamurenzi, a university IT student in Kigali.

  • Commercial Push: Local businessman James Ruzindana noted that "for businesses, it is a challenge for us to up our game in terms of having the right products that can be consumed by those who are visiting."

However, the deal is expected to draw scrutiny from human rights groups over Kagame's governance and allegations of "sportswashing," alongside UN reports implicating Rwanda in supporting rebel groups in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Outpacing regional rivals

Rwanda’s bid succeeded over competing proposals from South Africa and Morocco. Although South Africa held the last African Grand Prix at Kyalami in 1993, recent attempts to revive the venue stalled.

Reacting to the news, South African Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie congratulated Rwanda on social media:

"We are happy for Rwanda's 2030 F1. They have worked on it longer than SA and deserve it," McKenzie wrote on X. "Remember though that one country, Italy, has had two F1s a year, and some react like a continent of 55 countries can only get one. SA will get F1, even before 2030."

F1’s historical legacy in Africa

F1's history on the continent carries significant political weight. Races during the 1970s and 1980s were heavily shadowed by South Africa's apartheid regime, leading to team boycotts in 1985 amid international sanctions. F1 briefly returned to Kyalami in 1992 and 1993 as racial segregation was dismantled ahead of the country's first democratic elections. Morocco also hosted a single World Championship race back in 1958.

With Rwanda's 10-year deal secured, Formula 1 officially completes its global footprint across every inhabited continent. (AP)