Seven-time Formula One world champion and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has defended Rwanda’s selection to host the African Grand Prix, despite growing criticism over the country’s alleged military involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
- Lewis Hamilton defended Rwanda's selection as host of the African Grand Prix despite criticism over alleged Rwandan involvement in the DR Congo conflict.
- Formula 1 announced a 10-year deal to stage the Grand Prix in Bugesera, Rwanda, starting in the early 2030s, marking F1's return to Africa since 1993.
- The Democratic Republic of Congo condemned the decision due to Rwanda's alleged support for the M23 rebel group and called for guarantees that race funding does not come from conflict minerals.
- Hamilton emphasized Africa's right to representation in motorsport but stated that hosting the event should not overshadow ongoing human rights discussions and conflict.
The 41-year-old British driver urged critics to consider Africa’s history and the economic opportunities the race could create for the continent.
"I don't get to choose where we go. Naturally, there are problems all over the world today, so I've seen many of the stories. But I think we really have to approach it with humility," Hamilton said, according to the BBC.
"There's a lot that we don't know. Growing up in England, they never taught us anything about Africa. It needs to be on the curriculum. A lot of the problems they have there are still results of colonialism and the West intervening."
Rwanda’s historic Formula 1 deal
Hamilton's remarks follow Formula 1’s announcement on October 13, 2026, of a 10-year agreement to stage the African Grand Prix in Rwanda from the early 2030s.
The race will take place at a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, near Kigali’s new international airport, marking Formula 1’s return to Africa for the first time since South Africa hosted the championship at Kyalami in 1993.
Rwanda’s efforts to secure the race gained momentum in May 2024, when its officials met leaders of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) during the Monaco Grand Prix.
By August that year, Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali had confirmed that Rwanda had submitted a proposal, with further discussions scheduled for September.
“[Rwanda] are serious,” Domenicali told Motorsport.com. “They have presented a good plan and actually we have a meeting with them at the end of September. It will be on a permanent track.”
“We want to go to Africa, but we need to have the right investment, and the right strategic plan,” he added.
President Paul Kagame formally announced Rwanda's bid during the FIA General Assembly in Kigali in December 2024, advancing the country's efforts to bring Formula 1 back to Africa.
Having secured the agreement nearly two years later, Rwanda expects the Grand Prix to attract tourists, create jobs, boost infrastructure investment and strengthen its position as a major sporting destination.
Meanwhile, South Africa, which last hosted Formula 1 in 1993, is also pursuing a return to the championship after 33 years.
Despite his country's own ambitions, President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed Rwanda's selection, describing it as a victory for the continent.
"Rwanda’s win in this case is our win as Africa," Ramaphosa said.
DR Congo conflict fuels opposition
Unlike South Africa, neighbouring DR Congo has opposed Rwanda's selection, accusing Kigali of fuelling the conflict in its eastern provinces.
Rwanda has faced accusations of supporting M23 rebels, who captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, in January 2025, before seizing Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, the following month.
United Nations investigators reported that Rwandan troops fought alongside M23 rebels, supplied military equipment and helped them capture strategic territories. The conflict has displaced millions of people, disrupted trade and worsened insecurity in eastern Congo.
UN investigators also documented the smuggling of coltan from rebel-controlled Congolese mines into Rwanda, raising concerns about supply chains linked to global technology companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Samsung and Sony.
Rwanda, however, denies supporting M23 and instead accuses the Congolese government of cooperating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group linked to perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Despite diplomatic efforts and a US-brokered peace agreement, fighting has continued in parts of eastern Congo, raising concerns about regional stability.
Congo questions Formula 1 funding
Against this backdrop, Congolese Foreign Affairs Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner has criticised Formula 1’s decision, arguing that the event could improve President Paul Kagame’s international image while the conflict continues.
She warned that "giving (Rwanda President) Paul Kagame this platform would help polish the image of an authoritarian leader whose government has helped fuel a devastating war in our country".
Wagner also demanded financial safeguards, saying Formula 1 "should require credible, independent guarantees that no money used to host the race comes from conflict-linked minerals or the exploitation of Congolese resources".
Her concerns have placed the financing of Rwanda's Grand Prix under scrutiny, although the financial terms of the country's 10-year hosting agreement have not been publicly disclosed.
Hamilton calls for African representation and peace
Despite the controversy, Hamilton, who has long campaigned for Formula 1’s return to Africa, maintained that the continent deserves greater representation in global motorsport.
"Africa is a place that deserves to have a grand prix. It's about more than just one country. It's about the continent itself, and there are so many beautiful countries within it," he said.
Hamilton also highlighted Africa’s rich culture and the opportunity for Formula 1 to showcase the continent to a global audience.
"The people are so lovely. The culture is so rich, and I think it's important that we get to show that to the world," he added.