F1 Rwanda Grand Prix faces human rights and sportswashing concerns

Why F1 is heading to Rwanda

Formula 1's owner Liberty Media has been looking to establish a race in Africa since it took over the sport in 2017. It was the one glaring omission from the calendar, and the race in Rwanda will give F1 a presence on every single inhabited continent, as well as access to a largely untapped market.

Finding a country that is suitable to be a host has not been easy. Various possibilities were investigated. There was a project in Morocco near Tangier, but that didn't have the necessary finance. At one point, F1 looked quite close to a deal to return to Kyalami in South Africa for the first time since 1993, but there were issues with the promoter.

There are currently as many as four separate projects in South Africa, including Kyalami and two in Cape Town. But they are all too far away from being realistic possibilities.

Sportswashing accusations

Many - if not most - grands prix are funded by governments in one way or another, so it's hardly a surprise that the one African bid to come to fruition has government backing. It's a sensitive situation because Rwanda receives international aid, and the government and F1 have been keen to emphasise that the funding is coming from a newly established development fund combining public and private investment.

Then there are the accusations of 'sportswashing' - a term given to the use of major sports events to distract from aspects of the country's conduct that parts of the wider international community find problematic.

Rwanda is the subject of a case brought by its neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of breaching multiple international treaties covering genocide prevention, racial discrimination, women's rights and torture.

DRC's Minister of Foreign Affairs Therese Kayikwamba Wagner issued a statement last week to say that while DR Congo supported the idea of a grand prix in Africa, they were opposed to Rwanda being its host. She accused Rwanda President Paul Kagame of "fuelling a devastating war in our country", adding that wars in the DRC have claimed millions of lives, that people continue to be driven from their homes and Congolese natural resources exploited and appropriated.

The statement also pointed out that the US has imposed sanctions on Rwanda's military and senior officials because of their involvement in supporting the M23 rebel group in the DRC, undermining a peace agreement.

Kayikwamba Wagner added: "This is also an opportunity for F1 to show its audiences and supporters what the sport truly stands for. It should require credible, independent guarantees that no money used to host the race comes from conflict-linked minerals or the exploitation of Congolese resources."

F1 response

An F1 spokesperson said: "We have a long track record of delivering significant economic, social and cultural value to our host nations. "Through this race we have the opportunity to inspire and bring the passion of F1 to our more than 100 million fans across Africa and firmly believe that sport can be a positive force for good. "When racing around the world we ensure the exceptional standards, values and integrity of the sport are shared and delivered by both promoters and partners. "As we've seen, sport can be a huge driver of change and unifying force and look forward to the positive impact that the African Grand Prix will have."