What you need to know:
- While South Africa had also been exploring bids to bring F1 back to Cape Town or Kyalami, South African Sports Minister Gayton Mackenzie was gracious about Rwanda securing the slot, suggesting the continent could eventually host more than one race.
Rwanda has reached a landmark 10-year agreement to host the Formula One African Grand Prix starting in the early 2030s, bringing the world’s premier motorsport championship back to the continent for the first time since 1993.
The breakthrough has drawn warm praise from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, highlighting a rare moment of continental camaraderie between Kigali and Pretoria.
Writing on his official X account on Wednesday, President Ramaphosa offered "warm congratulations" on behalf of South Africa to Rwandan President Paul Kagame and the people of Rwanda.
"South Africa shares in the pride with which Rwanda is preparing to fly the chequered flag for our continent with the hosting of a globally prestigious event at the planned Bugesera circuit from the early 2030s," Ramaphosa posted.
Acknowledging South Africa’s own motorsport legacy, Ramaphosa added: "As host of the first Grand Prix on African soil in 1993, and organiser of other major global events, South Africa will be happy to provide any support we may be invited to share. You are in pole position to make all of Africa proud and take motorsport to new heights."
Responding on Thursday, President Kagame expressed gratitude for the gesture, signaling a spirit of unity in delivering the showpiece event to East Africa.
"Thank you my dear brother President Cyril Ramaphosa for your warm congratulations and offer of support," Kagame replied on X. "We look forward to working with you and all who share this vision as we make this a truly African Grand Prix in every way possible, and take motorsport to new heights on our continent."
The formal announcement was made on Tuesday in Kigali by Formula One Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali, alongside President Kagame and International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Formula One last raced in Africa 33 years ago at South Africa’s Kyalami circuit north of Johannesburg.
"Today is a landmark moment for Formula One," Domenicali told reporters. "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."
Domenicali emphasized that the 10-year deal extended beyond sports entertainment, citing the potential for massive economic growth and tourism across a continent with an estimated 100 million F1 fans.
The event will be hosted at a new purpose-built Grade One circuit in Bugesera, located approximately 40 kilometers south of Kigali, situated near an international airport currently under construction.
"Today belongs to Africa," President Kagame said during the press briefing. "For more than three decades, the world's premier motorsport championship has raced without this continent and that changes with this agreement. This 10-year partnership is also an investment in Rwanda's future."
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who now drives for Ferrari, welcomed the announcement, having long campaigned for Formula One to return to the continent.
"I've always said that we need to have a Grand Prix in Africa. It is, for me, the most important continent and the most beautiful continent," Hamilton said recently in Singapore.
While South Africa had also been exploring bids to bring F1 back to Cape Town or Kyalami, South African Sports Minister Gayton Mackenzie was gracious about Rwanda securing the slot, suggesting the continent could eventually host more than one race.
"We are happy for Rwanda's 2030 F1. They have worked on it longer than SA and deserve it," Mackenzie stated, noting that European countries such as Italy have historically hosted multiple races in a single season.
Rwanda becomes only the third African country to host a Formula One World Championship race, following Morocco in 1958 and South Africa (1962–1993).
The F1 deal represents the crown jewel in Kigali’s aggressive sports tourism drive under the "Visit Rwanda" initiative, which already includes high-profile sponsorships with European football giants, hosting the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, and organizing the Basketball Africa League (BAL) finals.
While President Kagame has earned international praise for rebuilding the nation’s economy following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the government continues to face scrutiny from human rights groups over internal political freedoms and regional conflict in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Nevertheless, with construction underway at the Bugesera facility, East Africa is officially set to take center stage on the global motorsport calendar.