Brazil - April 2023

President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva announced the legal recognition of six new Indigenous territories. This recognition entails special protection of the peoples that inhabit the territories. It also aims to put an end to illegal mining and other resource exploitation activities that have contributed to the deteriorating health and well-being of certain Indigenous communities. This decision by President Da Silva reverses the policy of former President Bolsonaro, who considered that Indigenous communities had been granted too much land, and who had authorized and encouraged mining even in recognized territories.

Sources: Reuters, British Broadcasting Corporation, O Globo

At the request of prosecutors carrying out a federal investigation into last January’s riots, in which Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters and protesters stormed the seats of Congress, the Supreme Court and the National Palace, the former President was ordered by the Supreme Court to provide testimony.  He testified to police on 26 April, as police are looking into his possible involvement, given the declarations and videos posted by him and supporters on alleged electoral irregularities. A spokesperson for Bolsonaro spoke to reporters on the former president’s rejection of the events in Brasilia in January.

Sources: Folha de São Paulo, Al Jazeera, British Broadcasting Corporation