Rwanda's President Paul Kagame addresses delegates at the FIA General Assembly at the Kigali Convention Center, in Kigali, Rwanda December 13, 2024. REUTERS/Jean Bizimana
KIGALI (Reuters) -Rwandan president Paul Kagame announced his country's bid for a Formula One race on Friday, ahead of an awards ceremony in the capital Kigali that will hand the champion's trophy to Max Verstappen for a fourth year in a row.
Formula One has not raced in Africa since the last South African Grand Prix was held at Kyalami, north of Johannesburg, in 1993.
"I am happy to formally announce that Rwanda is bidding to bring the thrill of racing back to Africa by hosting a Formula One Grand Prix," Kagame said in an opening address to the governing FIA's General Assembly.
"A big thank you to (Formula One chief executive) Stefano (Domenicali) and the entire team at F1, for the good progress in our discussions so far.
"I assure you that we are approaching this opportunity with the seriousness and commitment which it deserves. Together we will build something we can all be proud of."
Domenicali said in August that Rwanda wanted to host a race at a permanent circuit.
Media reports say the track, to be designed by a company run by Austrian former F1 racer Alexander Wurz, would be near a new international airport under construction at Bugesera some 40km from Kigali.
Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton also said in August that the time was right for a race in Africa.
"The time's 100% right. We can't be adding races in other locations and continue to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from. No one gives anything to Africa," said the Briton.
"I think having a Grand Prix there will really be able to highlight just how great the place is and bring in tourism and all sorts of things. Why are we not on that continent?"
The FIA is holding its general assemblies in Africa for the first time and the FIA's Emirati President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Rwanda's Sports Minister Richard Nyirihishema met earlier in Kigali.
"To be here in Rwanda for such an important moment in the FIA’s calendar is a testament to the strength of this nation, in particular its growing influence in motorsport," said Ben Sulayem.
"We are aligned on our values and shared goals across key sectors such as innovation, sustainability, and road safety, and I look forward to our continued partnership. The future of motorsport in Africa is bright."
Verstappen is also carrying out 'work of public interest' in Rwanda as punishment for swearing in a Singapore Grand Prix press conference in October.
The activity involves an Affordable Cross Car built locally in Rwanda from blueprints provided by the FIA.
Kagame has won praise from Western and regional leaders for helping to end the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and rebuilding the country into an attractive destination for investment and aid.
But he also stands accused of a brutal crackdown on critics at home, and supporting the M23 rebel group in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, who rights groups say are guilty of killings, rapes and other apparent war crimes.
He has repeatedly denied the allegations.
(Writing by Alan Baldwin in London, additional reporting by Hereward Holland in Nairobi, editing by Christian Radnedge)
