Formula 1 is returning to Africa for the first time since Kyalami in 1993. But a debate has begun before anyone has even started pouring the asphalt. Earlier this week, F1 and Rwanda officially confirmed a decade-long contract for the African Grand Prix, but Felix Jakens, head of campaigns at Amnesty International UK, has now argued that “a 10-year grand prix ‘presented by Visit Rwanda’ is a sportswashing prize for the Rwandan authorities.”
A race track that’s yet to be built
The announcement came from Rwanda’s leader Paul Kagame, F1’s chief executive Stefano Domenicali, and FIA head Mohammed Ben Sulayem – a newly constructed track in Bugesera will be built around 40km (25 miles) out of the capital. Alex Wurz is involved with the design of the circuit that will consist of 6km of asphalt, 17 corners and 200m of elevation change.
The first grand prix here is pencilled in for the “early 2030s”, and while there’s no slot in the calendar currently reserved, it will likely not be between March and May due to the rain the country gets over this period – although that would make for an interesting race.
“Rwanda is one of the world’s great success stories,” Kagame said. “A nation of extraordinary natural beauty and stunning landscapes, combined with resilience and courage to overcome and be reborn from challenges of its past.
“It is a nation filled with ambition, creativity and determination. A nation that has become a destination for international investment, innovation and opportunity.”
The push back from Amnesty
Jakens isn’t as positive on the newly confirmed contract: “Arsenal, Aston Villa, the cycling world championships and now Formula 1 – Rwanda is buying into the world’s biggest sports to polish its image and deflect from its appalling human rights record,” he said via the BBC. “Formula 1 says sport can be ‘a positive force for good’. That rings hollow if F1 shrugs off who it is partnering with.”
Jakens continued, adding that “Rwanda’s authorities are prolific in arbitrary detention, torture and the repression of free speech – these are abuses at home.”
Abroad, he says “Rwanda is playing a significant role in fuelling the conflict and related human rights abuses… both through its support to the M23 armed group and the direct actions of Rwanda’s military in eastern Congo.”
The UN human rights office’s September 2025 findings on eastern Congo cover January to July of that year. It says M23 “engaged in a campaign of intimidation and violent repression through a recurrent pattern of summary executions, torture, detention, enforced disappearances and forced recruitment.” The office also says M23 acted “with training, material, intelligence, and operational support from the Rwandan Defense Forces”.
The report found “reasonable grounds to believe” M23 members may have committed crimes against humanity, and described Rwanda’s backing as “at a minimum, consistent and significant military, logistical and material support”.
The same report found that all parties committed serious abuses, including Congo’s own army and allied Wazalendo militias.
Rwanda has consistently denied direct involvement with M23, including in its response to the UN report.
F1 has been in such a place before. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar have each seen similar criticism.
“Formula 1 must not be a bystander,” Jakens continued. “It should use its influence with the Rwandan authorities to push for change rather than lend its brand to a PR exercise.” Read Also:
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