'Deeply concerning': F1 warned against holding 'blood-stained' race in Rwanda

A Congolese government official has written a letter to F1 bosses urging them to end discussions with Rwanda about hosting a race in the country.

F1 officials have long held a desire for the sport to return to Africa, with rumours Rwanda or South Africa could be the destination as early as 2026.

The FIA held its annual prize-giving ceremony in the Rwandan capital of Kigali last December, where president Paul Kagame formally announced the country's bid.

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In a letter to F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali this week, Democratic Republic of Congo foreign affairs minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner said F1's discussion with Rwanda were "deeply concerning".

"Rwanda is currently occupying a large part of the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo in collaboration with its proxy the M23, displacing over 700,000 Congolese citizens," the letter reads.

"While I applaud Formula 1's desire to host a grand prix in Africa, I question whether Rwanda would be a choice that best represents our continent and urge you to end negotiations and rule Rwanda out as a potential host.

"Does Formula 1 really want its brand smeared by a blood-stained association with Rwanda? Is this really the best country to represent Africa in global motorsport?"

Citizens of the two nations have endured decades of political unrest following the Rwandan genocide in 1994, in which an estimated 800,000 Tutsis were killed by Hutu extremists.

The genocide was ended by the advancement of a group of Tutsi rebels led by Paul Kagame, who would go on to become the Rwandan president in 2000.

Fearing reprisals, an estimated one million Hutus fled into the DRC.

The rebel M23 is another Tutsi rebel group formed in 2012 which almost immediately moved into the DRC and seized control of the border city of Goma. According to the UN, the group is backed by the Rwandan government, who provide weapons and logistical support.

Rwanda is hoping to become the first African nation to host an F1 race since South Africa in 1993, and would build a new permanent circuit near a yet-to-be-built airport neat Kigali.

At the prize-giving ceremony, Kagame made assurances his office was "approaching this opportunity with the seriousness and commitment it deserves".

Wagner earlier this month called on football giants Arsenal, Bayern Munich and PSG to end their 'Visit Rwanda' sponsorship deals. The central African country will also host the 2025 UCI World Road Cycling Championships in September.