Formula 1 would "polish the image of a dictatorial leader" if it proceeds with plans to hold an African Grand Prix in Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner said on Thursday.
On Tuesday, Rwandan President Paul Kagame appeared alongside F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to announce the race. According to F1, the event will take place at a yet-to-be-built circuit in Bugesera, near the capital Kigali, in the "early 2030s." The sport last held a race in Africa in 1993.
The DRC, the United States and United Nations experts have accused Rwanda of backing M23 rebels in eastern DRC. Rwanda says its security measures are aimed at protecting the country from threats posed by armed groups operating across the border.
"In February 2025, I warned Stefano Domenicali and F1 officials that allowing Rwanda to host a Grand Prix could not be morally justified," Kayikwamba Wagner said in a statement. "The DRC welcomes Formula 1's return to Africa, but giving Paul Kagame this platform will help polish the image of a dictatorial leader whose government has helped ignite a devastating war in our country."
According to the DRC foreign minister, the country supports South Africa's efforts to host the race instead.
"This is also an opportunity for F1 to show its audience and fans what the sport truly stands for," she added. "F1 should demand independent, credible guarantees that no money used to stage the race comes from conflict minerals or from the exploitation of Congo's resources."
The DRC has previously opposed other Rwandan efforts to promote its image through sport, particularly a series of high-profile sponsorship deals with top European football clubs.
In March, the United States imposed sanctions on Rwanda's military and four senior officers over allegations of backing M23 rebels in eastern DRC. Rwanda rejected the sanctions, calling them biased and a misrepresentation of the conflict.
