The Brazilian general election which held on October 2, 2022 declared Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as winner with 50.90% of the total votes against his major contender and incumbent president, Jair Bolsonaro who came closely behind at 49.10% of the total votes cast.
The Brazilian left-wing politician and 35th president will again be sworn in as the 39th president of the Democratic Republic of Brazil on January 1, 2023 after 12 years since he left office.
Analysts have stated that Lula’s reelection into power portends a revitalized trade relations between Brazil and Africa. This is with reference to Lula’s demonstrated interest and influence in Africa during his tenures in the past.
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According to a report by the African Business, Lula visited 27 African countries during his two terms in office from 2003 until 2010. Within this period, exports from Brazil to sub-Saharan Africa increased by 25% per year. Trade relations with Lusophone Angola and Mozambique and Anglophone Nigeria and South Africa were deepened.
“However, since then, Brazil-Africa trade has lost much of its lustre. In 2019, Brazilian trade with sub-Saharan Africa reached its lowest value in 15 years, accounting for $3.67bn in exports and $2.35bn in imports” . The trend has worsened under the administration of Bolsanaro, the African Business stated.
João Bosco Monte, president of the Brazil Africa Institute was reported to have said: the fact that Bolsanaro did not even visit Africa gives a “symbolic idea that he did not consider the continent as part of his political and economic agenda.”
“Lula says he will prioritise protection of the Amazon rainforest – a crucial move for climate change-hit Africa as Cop27 begins this week.
“Therefore a major priority will be diversifying links beyond Brazilian purchases of African oil – a recent analysis shows that there is potential for Brazil to boost exports of transportation, machinery and electronics to the continent. Brazil could also share knowledge on its transformational agricultural policies, and revitalise diplomacy through the BRICS and other global south forums.”
The African Business quoted Kamilla Raquel Rizzi, associate professor at the Federal University of Pampa as follows:
“Under Lula, the Brazilian foreign agenda will reconsider the African continent as a priority.
“Naturally, this will stimulate foreign trade between Brazil and Africa, using public policies, a concession of credit, and more appetite within the private sector”.