Formula One is working "very hard" to bring a race back to Africa, F1 president Stefano Domenicali revealed.
The continent last held an F1 event in 1993 at South Africa's Kyalami circuit, a venue widely touted as the favourite to play host if the series returns to Africa, and there is a growing desire for that to happen.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton is among those to call for an African Grand Prix, while critics point out that Africa is the only continent, Antarctica excluded, not to hold a race.
F1's plan is to add Africa to the schedule, however, with Domenicali revealing there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes.
"100 per cent, Africa is still a continent that we are working very hard," he told Sky Sports. "As I always said, we need to find the right partners, the right middle-term plan.
"What I want to avoid is that we go there one year and then forget it. We are working, trying to find a solution for the best of the sport, for the best of the country."
F1's rise in popularity has increased the desire from more locations to hold a race, with big-money reportedly being offered from America and the Far East, though that is not a decisive factor in the eyes of Domenicali.
Neither is the history of venues, with the focus instead on the long-term development of F1.
"Today, the money is huge, but we need to protect the quality of the events and the sport," he added.
"When 'historical' is only connected to looking behind, that is a problem. When 'historical' is a value, if you are focused on developing the sport for the future, it's a great value.
"That's our duty - to make sure that, for example Monza, it's an incredible place but they need to make sure [they invest in] the future infrastructure, in services for the fans."