DR Congo, through Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, protested Formula 1's decision to go ahead with plans to hold an African Grand Prix in Rwanda, calling it "morally indefensible."

Rwandan President Paul Kagame joined F1 Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem on Tuesday to announce the race. It will be held at a circuit yet to be built at Bugesera, near Rwanda’s capital Kigali, in “the early 2030s," F1 says. The series last raced in Africa in 1993.

“(DRC) welcomes Formula 1’s return to Africa. In February 2025, I warned Stefano Domenicali and the F1 authorities that allowing Rwanda to host a Grand Prix would be morally indefensible," Minister Kayikwamba Wagner said in a statement.

DRC accuses Rwanda of backing M23 rebels in eastern Congo. Rwanda strongly denies this, saying its security measures are intended to protect its territory against threats from armed groups operating across the border.

South Africa support

Kayikwamba Wagner said Congo backs rival efforts from South Africa to host a race instead. Rwandan authorities have not publicly commented on Kayikwamba's objections.

Congo has previously objected to other Rwandan efforts to promote its brand through sports, especially a string of high-profile sponsorship agreements with leading European soccer clubs.

The United States imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s military and four senior officers in March over allegations that it is supporting M23 rebels in eastern Congo. Rwanda rejected the sanctions as one-sided and said they misrepresented the conflict.