Africa Bets on Brazil’s New President Lula Da Silva

Many African leaders were quick to congratulate Brazil's President Lula da Silva on his election. They are counting on da Silva to improve relations which had greatly suffered under former President Jair Bolsonaro.

"Africa will again be a priority in Brazil's relations with the world," stated Brazilian President Inacio Lula da Silva after meeting his counterpart from Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, in early January.

Lula da Silva's last two terms of office (2003-2010) left happy memories in Africa. He traveled to more than 30 African nations and opened embassies in 19 countries.

Former President Jair Bolsonaro, however, did not visit the continent even once, expressing his lack of interest in Africa.

"I think we'll get back to the original Lula strategy of a closer relationship with Africa and much more closer relations again with South Africa and BRICS," William Gumede, chairperson of the South Africa-based Democracy Works Foundation, told DW.

Strengthening Africa's voice

BRICS, the group of emerging economies comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, originally a loose formation to push economic ties, has increasingly turned into a political force.

Brazil's more determined stand against Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine will also counteract what Gumede described as "South Africa's quite bad situation of totally sitting on the fence, actually defending, not criticizing Russia publicly." But closer ties with Africa are very much in Brazil's interest.

"As big as Brazil is, it is still a developing economy. The African issues are also Brazilian issues," Gumede said. "For instance, fair trade and access to world markets, for which global institutions such as Bretton Woods or the World Trade Organization have to be reformed."

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