Rwanda agrees 10-year deal to stage African Grand Prix in early 2030s

Rwanda will host Formula 1 from the early 2030s under a newly finalized 10-year agreement, marking the championship's first visit to the African continent in more than three decades.

The planned event, officially named the African Grand Prix, is scheduled to run on a brand-new facility in Bugesera, roughly 25 miles south of Kigali. The circuit will sit adjacent to the capital's new international airport. It represents Formula 1's first grand prix in Africa since South Africa hosted a round at Kyalami in 1993.

Former driver Alex Wurz conceived the track's layout, working in collaboration with WurzDesign, Tilke, and DAR. Designers intend to take advantage of the local terrain's natural slopes and elevation shifts to produce a quick, undulating circuit that offers strong sightlines for spectators.

Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali described the agreement as a landmark moment that guarantees the series will compete on every inhabited continent. Series officials stated the long-term project followed years of preparation aimed at creating a sustainable event that broadens motorsport's footprint across an underrepresented region.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame welcomed the deal, noting that the world's leading motorsport series had spent more than 30 years away from the continent. He said the project would inspire youth across Africa while generating employment, technical skills, and tourism benefits for the wider region.

The precise calendar slot for the grand prix remains undecided. Organizers will likely seek to avoid the primary rainy period running from March to May, while Formula 1 continues to cap its yearly schedule at 24 grands prix.

The announcement has also attracted scrutiny. Critics and human rights organizations have repeatedly accused Rwanda of utilizing prominent sporting partnerships to deflect attention from domestic rights issues, pointing to earlier commercial sponsorships with English football teams Arsenal and Aston Villa. Neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo has also lodged a case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice alleging violations of several international conventions.

Amnesty International UK criticized the agreement, arguing that Formula 1 risks providing public relations cover for a troubled human rights record. A Formula 1 spokesperson maintained that motorsport serves as a constructive influence that can engage and inspire roughly 100 million people across the continent.