South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema have publicly congratulated Rwanda on securing the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, the 10-year agreement that will bring the world’s top motor racing championship back to the continent in the early 2030s.
Both leaders posted their messages on X on Thursday, October 15, days after Formula 1 and Rwanda announced the deal in Kigali, and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda replied to each of them within hours the same day.
Ramaphosa wrote that the contract “is a recognition of the capabilities of the Rwandan nation and of our continent more broadly.” He recalled that South Africa hosted the first Grand Prix on African soil in 1993, and said his country “will be happy to provide any support we may be invited to share.”
He also described the race as another addition to Rwanda’s growing list of major international events, citing the Tour du Rwanda, a cycling race classified by the Union Cycliste Internationale, the sport’s world governing body. His message closed with a motorsport pun: “You are in pole position to make all of Africa proud and take motorsport to new heights.”
Hichilema wrote that the achievement “reflects your resilience, vision, and smart hard work,” adding that “Zambia shares your pride in this milestone for Rwanda and Africa.”
Kagame answered Ramaphosa first. “Thank you my dear brother President @CyrilRamaphosa for your warm congratulations and offer of support,” he wrote, adding that Rwanda looks forward to working with Ramaphosa “and all who share this vision as we make this a truly African Grand Prix in every way possible.”
A few hours later he replied to Hichilema, calling the agreement “a milestone for Rwanda and for Africa.” In that post he said Rwanda looks forward to working with Hichilema and “our African brothers and sisters to make the African Grand Prix a success for the entire continent,” a message that presents the race as a shared African project rather than a Rwandan one alone.
The messages follow the announcement on Tuesday, October 13, when Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali appeared in Kigali alongside Kagame and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the body that governs the sport. According to Formula 1, the race will be known as the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, the country’s tourism brand, and will run on a new purpose-built circuit at Bugesera, in Rwanda’s Eastern Province.
The site lies about 40 kilometres south of Kigali, next to the new international airport under construction there. It would be the first Formula 1 race in Africa since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.
The agreement is the result of a campaign that Kagame made public in December 2024, when he formally announced Rwanda’s bid at the opening of the FIA General Assembly in Kigali. According to ABC News, Rwanda Development Board Chief Executive Jean-Guy Afrika said the new track would hold 100,000 spectators and operate year-round as a venue for concerts and exhibitions.
The Rwanda Development Board is the government agency that leads investment promotion and tourism. Formula 1 said the circuit will be built to FIA Grade 1 standards, the highest safety and technical certification a track needs before it can host a world championship round.
With the contract signed, the next milestone is construction at Bugesera, which Formula 1 says must be completed before the first race can take place early in the next decade. Ramaphosa’s offer of South African support, and Kagame’s public invitation to Hichilema and other African leaders to help make the race a continental success, suggest that regional cooperation on the event is likely to be explored as the project moves from announcement to delivery.
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