According to Lula, Brasilia wants to make up for the continent’s contributions to the growth of the Latin American nation during the era of slavery.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated on Wednesday that Brazil is interested in restarting partnerships and forging strong ties with African nations. He also announced plans to visit “several” states on the continent this year and the next year.
According to local media, Lula expressed remorse about Brazil’s recent disengagement from Africa and promised that efforts would be made to rebuild decades-old connections.
“I want to rebuild our ties with Africa since the African people are what made Brazil what it is today. The president was quoted by the official news outlet Agencia Brasil as saying, “Our culture, colour, and size are the results of the blending of Indians, Blacks, and Europeans.
He said this when he was speaking with Jose Maria Neves, the president of Cape Verde.
In January, Lula began his third non-consecutive term as president. He visited 27 African nations and opened embassies in 19 of them during his two prior administrations, which were from 2003 to 2010. Jair Bolsonaro, a former president, has never been to Africa.
Lula claimed that the Latin American nation has the ability to assist Africa in a number of ways during his conversation with his Cape Verdean counterpart.
“Brazil could have developed a vaccine against COVID-19 and assisted the African continent if we didn’t have a denialist administration… We want to restore the positive and beneficial relationship we had, he added, but with my return to the president.
Lula praised Africa as the “cradle of humanity,” thanking it for “everything that was produced during 350 years of slavery” for Brazil and emphasising that it would receive compensation.
As restitution for the contributions made during slavery, Lula’s government intends to provide technology transfer, specialised professional training tailored to Africa’s needs, and industrial and agricultural aid.
The president was quoted by Agencia Brasil as saying, “We are going to open embassies in nations where Brazil does not have embassies, and hold many meetings with various African specialists to define what Brazil can help the African continent with the most.”
Brazil has 34 embassies now located throughout Africa and has the highest number of people of African heritage outside of the continent.
