The award of a 10-year contract to Rwanda for a Formula One Africa Grand Prix as part of a purpose-built sports and leisure centre with a new international airport costing over US$1.3 billion is President Paul Kagame’s biggest sportswashing project so far. Apart from the prestige of Rwanda representing the continent, Kagame could enjoy the schadenfreude of beating South Africa in the race for the contract. Longstanding tensions peaked last year when South African peacekeeping troops in eastern Congo-Kinshasa were bombarded by Rwandan-backed M23 militia fighters and forced to surrender. Until now, Kigali had focused on football sponsorship, but the collapse of its ‘Visit Rwanda’ deal with London-based Arsenal prompted a tactical switch to Formula One.

The racetrack, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali, will cost about $270 million along with a $50m annual ‘hosting fee’ paid to Liberty Media, owners of Formula One. But most of the cost, including 60% of the new airport at Bugesera, will be paid upfront by Qatar. Qatar Airways is also Formula One’s official airline. The hosting rights, due to start in the early 2030s, could earn Rwanda a $1bn a year in associated tourism revenues. A week after the Formula One award the corpse of Sergeant Major Robert Kabera, a Rwandan officer turned Kagame critic, was found beheaded near Uganda’s capital, Kampala. For some realities, sportswashing can’t eradicate.