President Lula attends the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
President Lula attended the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this Saturday (17).
The first appointment this Saturday was a meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations. But António Guterres canceled his trip to Addis Ababa.
Lula then met with the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. Mohammad Shtayyeh thanked Brazil for its support and solidarity and said that concern now turns to the upcoming Israeli land operation in Rafah.
Lula then attended the African Union summit. He was the fourth to speak. The Brazilian president condemned the attacks by Hamas terrorists on Israeli civilians and also Israel's actions in Gaza.
“Being a humanitarian today means condemning Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians and calling for the immediate release of all hostages. Being a humanist also means rejecting Israel's disproportionate response, which killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza the vast majority of them women and children and led to the forced displacement of more than 80% of the population. The solution to this crisis will only be lasting if we work quickly towards the creation of a Palestinian state,” said Brazil's president.
1 of 1 President Lula attends the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Photo: Reproduction/ TV Globo President Lula attends the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Photo: Reproduction/ TV Globo
Lula also highlighted the possibilities for cooperation between the countries of the continent and Brazil, saying that during the Brazilian presidency of the G20, the three central axes of the group are social inclusion with the fight against hunger and poverty; sustainable development and energy transition; and global governance reform.
The African Union, made up of 55 countries, joined the G20 with the support of Brazil, achieving the same status as the European Union.
“The Global South is becoming an inevitable part of the solution to the greatest crises plaguing the planet. Crises that result from a model of wealth concentration and primarily affect the poorest. And among them also immigrants. The Alternative The Evils.” “Neoliberal globalization will not come from the racist and xenophobic far right,” he declared.
One of President Lula's priorities since the beginning of this term has been rebuilding relations between Brazil and African countries. At the end of his speech in the plenary session at the African Union headquarters, Lula reiterated this commitment by declaring that Brazil has a historic debt to Africa and received a standing ovation.
“Everything, whether a lot or a little, that Brazil has, I want to share with African countries, because we have a historical debt from 300 years of slavery and the only way to pay it off is with solidarity and a lot of love. A hug and thank you very much,” emphasized Lula in his speech.
Lula's official visit to Ethiopia ends on Sunday (18). It leaves Addis Ababa in the early afternoon and arrives in Brasília late at night. This is the president's second trip to African countries since the start of this term.