DR Congo’s foreign minister condemns Formula 1’s decision to bring a Grand Prix to Rwanda, warning that the event could improve President Paul Kagame’s international image while serious questions remain over Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict in eastern Congo.
KINSHASA, DR Congo — October 16, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of Congo has criticized Formula 1’s decision to stage an African Grand Prix in Rwanda, with Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner describing the move as morally unacceptable in light of the conflict in eastern DRC.
According to reporting by Al Jazeera, based on an Associated Press report, Kayikwamba Wagner argued in a statement on October 15 that awarding Rwanda a major international sporting event could improve President Paul Kagame’s global reputation while his government faces accusations of supporting armed groups in Congolese territory.
She warned that giving Kagame such a prominent international platform would help rehabilitate the image of a leader whose government, in her assessment, has contributed to the war in eastern Congo.
Rwanda Selected for Formula 1’s Return to Africa
The controversy follows an October 13 announcement involving President Kagame, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Under the announced plans, Rwanda would host a Formula 1 Grand Prix in the early 2030s at a new racing circuit to be built in Bugesera, near Kigali.
The event would mark Formula 1’s return to Africa after an absence of more than three decades. The continent last hosted a championship race in South Africa in 1993.
While the announcement represents a significant development for African motorsport, it has renewed questions about Rwanda’s use of international sporting partnerships to promote its global reputation.
DR Congo Calls the Decision Morally Indefensible
JUSTICE & CRIME
F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner
Oct 16, 2026
Oct 16, 2026
7 min read
Published
Updated:
DR Congo’s foreign minister condemns Formula 1’s decision to bring a Grand Prix to Rwanda, warning that the event could improve President Paul Kagame’s international image while serious questions remain over Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict in eastern Congo.
KINSHASA, DR Congo — October 16, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of Congo has criticized Formula 1’s decision to stage an African Grand Prix in Rwanda, with Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner describing the move as morally unacceptable in light of the conflict in eastern DRC.
According to reporting by Al Jazeera, based on an Associated Press report, Kayikwamba Wagner argued in a statement on October 15 that awarding Rwanda a major international sporting event could improve President Paul Kagame’s global reputation while his government faces accusations of supporting armed groups in Congolese territory.
She warned that giving Kagame such a prominent international platform would help rehabilitate the image of a leader whose government, in her assessment, has contributed to the war in eastern Congo.
Rwanda Selected for Formula 1’s Return to Africa
The controversy follows an October 13 announcement involving President Kagame, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Under the announced plans, Rwanda would host a Formula 1 Grand Prix in the early 2030s at a new racing circuit to be built in Bugesera, near Kigali.
The event would mark Formula 1’s return to Africa after an absence of more than three decades. The continent last hosted a championship race in South Africa in 1993.
While the announcement represents a significant development for African motorsport, it has renewed questions about Rwanda’s use of international sporting partnerships to promote its global reputation.
ADVERTISEMENT
DR Congo Calls the Decision Morally Indefensible
Kayikwamba Wagner said the Congolese government had raised its concerns with Formula 1 well before the latest announcement.
She recalled warning Formula 1 officials in February 2025 that awarding Rwanda a Grand Prix would be difficult to justify given the security and humanitarian situation in eastern Congo.
The foreign minister emphasized that Kinshasa supports Formula 1’s return to Africa. However, she argued that the choice of Rwanda raises serious ethical questions.
Her criticism centers on allegations that the Rwandan government has supported the M23 rebel movement, which has been involved in major fighting in eastern DRC.
United Nations experts, the United States and the Congolese government have accused Rwanda of supporting M23. Kigali rejects accusations about its role in the conflict and maintains that its security actions respond to threats from armed groups operating near its borders.
For the Congolese government, the decision to award Rwanda a high-profile sporting event cannot be separated from the regional security crisis.
Concerns Over Congolese Minerals and Grand Prix Financing
Beyond the political controversy, Kayikwamba Wagner raised concerns about how Rwanda would finance the proposed Grand Prix.
She called on Formula 1 to demand independent assurances that funds connected to the event would not originate from conflict-linked minerals or the exploitation of Congolese resources.
Her remarks reflect broader Congolese concerns about the illegal exploitation and cross-border movement of mineral resources from conflict-affected areas in eastern DRC.
ADVERTISEMENT
DR Congo Supports South Africa as an Alternative Host
Although Kinshasa opposes the decision to stage the race in Rwanda, the government has made clear that it welcomes Formula 1’s return to the African continent.
Kayikwamba Wagner expressed support for South Africa’s competing efforts to bring the championship back to the country.
South Africa previously hosted Formula 1 races, including the last African Grand Prix in 1993.
By supporting South Africa’s bid, the Congolese government is distinguishing its opposition to Rwanda’s selection from any objection to African countries hosting major international sporting events.
Rwanda’s Sporting Partnerships Face Renewed Scrutiny
Rwanda has spent years building its international profile through tourism promotion and partnerships with major sporting organizations.
Through its Visit Rwanda tourism campaign, the country has established relationships with prominent European football clubs and supported international sporting events.
These initiatives have placed Rwanda’s tourism brand before global audiences. Critics, however, argue that such partnerships can also deliver reputational benefits to governments facing accusations of human rights violations.
The Formula 1 controversy adds to previous criticism of Rwanda’s sporting relationships, particularly those involving European football clubs.
TRENDING NOW
POPULAR TODAY
ADVERTISEMENT
US Sanctions Add to the Diplomatic Dispute
The Formula 1 controversy also comes against the backdrop of international pressure over Rwanda’s alleged involvement in eastern DRC.
The United States imposed sanctions in March 2026 on Rwanda’s military and four senior officers over support for M23 rebels in eastern DRC.
Rwanda rejected the measures, arguing that they presented a one-sided interpretation of the conflict.
The sanctions have become part of a wider diplomatic dispute involving Rwanda, the DRC and international partners seeking to address violence in eastern Congo.
Formula 1 Faces Questions Beyond Motorsport
The dispute highlights the tension between Formula 1’s ambition to expand into new markets and the political implications of choosing a host country.
A return to Africa would be a major milestone for the championship and could introduce the sport to new audiences across the continent.
Kayikwamba Wagner argues that the selection process should also consider human rights concerns, regional security and the origins of money used to finance major sporting events.
As Formula 1 moves toward its proposed return to Africa, the debate is likely to extend beyond racing infrastructure and commercial opportunities to questions of accountability, international reputation and the ongoing war in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED ARTICLE
