Speaking to The Athletic, Afrika shared that the country is "in the race to possibly hold a Formula One event here in 2029," with progress being made but the talks "not yet concluded."
He highlighted that these negotiations are tied to the development of a new international airport, which will support the creation of a "new city" alongside the F1 racetrack.
"We actually want to use the airport as an opportunity to practically develop an entire new city," Afrika explained.
The project could extend beyond F1, with potential for hosting Formula Two and Formula Three races as well.
Afrika emphasized the broader vision, stating, 'F1 as a whole is a sport of great interest for us, even beyond bringing the racetrack, in terms of what we could do in the future because it's the sport of global CEOs, tech entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals, and it is far more targeted.'
According to F1 sources, Rwanda is emerging as Africa's most advanced contender to host a future F1 race, with 2030 also being considered as a possible date.
Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire expressed confidence, saying, 'Talks are going well.' 'F1 is something huge, so you as a country really need to prepare in terms of different aspects. Their calendar is getting busier and busier, but we have proven to be a trustable partner and a strategic partner, so we believe we will get there.'
With Rwanda positioning itself as a trusted partner in sports, the F1 event is seen as an opportunity to boost the country's global profile and open doors to investments in both sports and business.
"It opens doors for investment into the nation but also into sport," Mukazayire added.
The new Bugesera Airport is expected to open in phases, with the first phase set to be completed by 2027.
This phase will have the capacity to accommodate up to 7 million passengers annually. The second phase, scheduled for completion by 2032, will expand the airport's capacity to 14 million passengers per year.
President Paul Kagame confirmed Rwanda's bid to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix in the country on Friday, December 13, 2024.
The Head of State made the announcement during the FIA General Assembly held at the Kigali Convention Center, following months of reports of Rwanda's push to host the high-profile sporting event.
In his speech, Kagame expressed delight at the progress made so far, acknowledging the positive discussions with Formula 1 officials, led by CEO Stefano Domenicali.
Rwanda's bid to host the Grand Prix is part of a broader strategy to attract high-profile sports events to Africaâ€"a continent that has not hosted a Formula 1 race since the 1993 South African Grand Prix.
'I am happy to formally announce that Rwanda is beginning to bring the thrill of racing back to Africa by hosting the Formula 1 Grand Prix. A big thank you to Stefano Domenicali and the entire team at Formula 1 for the good progress in our discussions so far,' President Kagame stated.
'I assure you that we are approaching this opportunity with the seriousness and commitment it deserves. Together, we will build something we can all be proud of,' he added.
For Rwanda to host an F1 event, it requires race tracks that meet global standards, including both "Street Circuits" and specialized "Race Tracks."
The cost of building a new track typically starts at $400 million, depending on the design and scale of the project.
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