Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, has revealed that the East African country is advancing discussions to host Africa’s first Formula 1 race since 1993, as part of its broader strategy to use sports as a driver for economic growth and global visibility. Nduhungirehe stated that Kigali has already demonstrated its ability to host “big sporting events,” referring to the country’s collaboration with the NBA’s Basketball Africa League which has seen some games played at the BK Arena in Kigali and the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, an annual cycling competition, coming up in Kigali next year. Nduhungirehe also revealed that the country’s multimillion-dollar investments in sports infrastructure, partnerships, and global sponsorship deals are already paying dividends. Kigali’s “Visit Rwanda” campaign, promoted through sponsorships with Arsenal, PSG, and Bayern Munich, and its strategy of hosting major sporting events have significantly boosted tourism, contributing $636 million in revenue in 2023—a 36% increase from 2022.
SOURCE: SEMAFOR
