The African Union has welcomed the agreement to bring Formula 1 Grand Prix to Rwanda, describing it as an opportunity to raise Africa’s profile in international sport and attract investment. In a statement on Friday, October 23, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf commended the Rwandan government for the agreement, saying major international sporting events can help promote tourism, create jobs, develop local expertise and expand opportunities for young people. ALSO READ: Understanding the Formula 1 spectacle coming to Rwanda He also highlighted the role of sport in economic growth and regional integration, calling for greater collaboration between African governments, private investors and other stakeholders to increase the continent’s participation in the global sports industry. He described the agreement as a significant milestone for African sport and a testament to the continent’s growing potential to host world-class international sporting events. The agreement announced on October 13 in Kigali aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which seeks to build an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa with a stronger role in global affairs, according to the statement. Youssouf urged AU member states, the private sector and other partners to work together to maximise the economic and social benefits of major sporting initiatives. ALSO READ: Rwanda's Formula 1 partnership is bigger than motorsport President Paul Kagame announced 10-year deal to host the Formula 1 African Grand Prix in Rwanda in the early 2030s. The race is expected to join the championship calendar in the early 2030s, marking Formula 1’s return to Africa for the first time since the 1993 South African Grand Prix. The race is planned for a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera District, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali and near the new Kigali International Airport. The circuit is expected to meet the FIA’s Grade 1 standards required to host Formula 1 races.
