He made the remarks while discussing the potential benefits that Rwanda and Africa’s young people could gain from bringing Formula One to the continent.
This follows the announcement on October 13, 2026, that Rwanda had secured a 10-year agreement to host a Formula One Grand Prix from 2030.
The high-speed motor racing championship is set to return to Africa for the first time in 33 years.
Responding to concerns that hosting the event might be beyond Rwanda’s capacity, President Kagame said it should be seen as part of the country’s broader ambitions.
“I would tell those people to take a deep breath, calm down and wait to see what is coming. First of all, we are human beings like everyone else in other parts of the world. Nothing is greater than people. We are a small country, but we are human beings. Formula One is certainly a big undertaking, but it is part of the bigger picture of what Rwanda needs to do,” he said.
He explained that although the races would take place in Rwanda, the initiative was intended to create opportunities for Africa as a whole.
“There are many things Rwanda has committed itself to doing, and we have made progress as a country and as a people. But with Formula One, particularly as a sport connected to Africa, we are not looking at Rwanda alone. We are looking at Rwanda within the broader context of the continent, and we intend to involve our fellow Africans and encourage them to participate,” he said.
President Kagame cited other major events Rwanda has hosted, including the Basketball Africa League, the FIFA Congress and the UCI Road World Championships.
“There will be more events to come. We are pleased to host Formula One, and we will try to convince those who do not yet understand its potential that they, too, can participate and benefit from it,” he added.
The President said Rwanda would work with private-sector players and investors from different countries to deliver the project.
“We will have investors, and there will, in fact, be significant involvement from the private sector. We have friends who came here to join us, as well as others who could not make it but wanted to be here. This is therefore a Rwandan project, an African project and a major undertaking that we are proud to be part of,” he said.
President Kagame stressed that hosting the African Grand Prix would bring Formula One closer to fans across the continent, many of whom have previously followed the sport only on television.
“There are many fans of Formula One and other forms of motorsport. They have always watched from a distance, on television, but they want to be part of it. We have said this is about bringing the sport closer to them and helping them participate,” he said.
He added that the initiative could also create jobs and help young people develop technical skills.
“Young fans will not simply enjoy watching what happens; they will be involved as engineers, mechanics and investors, alongside many others working in different fields that require hundreds or thousands of people. This is what Africa’s young people deserve, and we are saying they are part of this initiative. We are bringing it closer to them here in Africa,” he said.
He further stressed the need to turn commitments into tangible benefits for citizens.
“We must ensure that what we talk about becomes a reality and that our people benefit from it. Rwanda and the rest of the continent will benefit. We want others to participate as well. That is why our borders are open and why the removal of visa requirements was a deliberate decision, not something that happened by accident,” he added.
