After obtaining the organization of the final phase of the Basketball Africa League or the road cycling world championships, which will take place in 2025, Rwanda is looking to strike another big blow.
And it is on Formula 1 that Paul Kagame has set his sights since a visit to the Singapore Grand Prix in 2022.
“Rwanda’s interest in Formula 1 is part of our strategy to leverage sport for transformative impact“, declared Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo in response to rumors on the subject.
If the idea of hosting a Grand Prix may seem strange since Rwanda does not even have an approved automobile circuit, the signals sent by the world of F1 are still very positive.
Stefano Domenicali, F1’s chief executive, described Rwanda’s proposal as “serious“so much so that the governing body of the FIA will organize its annual general meeting and the presentation of these awards in Kigali, next December.
Kigali draws inspiration from Gulf countries
This entry into the world of F1 is just a new example of Paul Kagame’s very ambitious policy in terms of sport. The head of state is openly inspired by the policy pursued for three decades by the Gulf states to restore their image.
Like the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, Paul Kagame has also become closer to Gianni Infantino, the very controversial president of FIFA. Football’s world governing body has even opened an office in the capital.
For Clémentine de Montjoye, representative of Humans Right Watch, it is obvious that Paul Kagame uses, like others before him, sport as a weapon of communication and that the country’s partners must open their eyes regarding “the massive human rights violations committed by Kigali“.
But the world of sport tends to keep its eyes closed on these subjects, as demonstrated, for example, by the organization of the last World Cups in Russia and Qatar. Rwanda knows it and plays on it.
