Future Brazil gov to 'dissociate' itself from UN migration compact

Brazil's future foreign minister Ernesto Araujo said Monday that the incoming government of Jair Bolsonaro will "dissociate" itself from a UN compact on migration, hours after the country's current government endorsed it.

"The Bolsonaro government will dissociate itself from the Global Migration Pact that is being launched in Marrakech, an inadequate instrument to deal with the problem," Araujo tweeted.

"Immigration should not be treated as a global issue, but rather according to the reality and sovereignty of each country."

The global pact was adopted earlier Monday at a conference in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, which was attended by official delegations from more than 150 countries. It still needs to be endorsed by the UN General Assembly.

"Supported by Brazil and more than 150 countries, the Global Compact does not compromise the sovereign right of states to determine their migration policies," Brazil's Foreign Ministry tweeted Monday.

In July, 192 countries unanimously approved the pact following 18 months of negotiations. The United States backed out in December 2017 followed by a slew of other countries.

It lays out 23 objectives to ensure "safe, orderly and regular" migration, including protecting migrants from exploitation and human rights abuses.

Araujo, a climate change sceptic and anti-globalist, is set to become Brazil's new foreign minister in January, when the government of far-right president-elect Bolsonaro takes power.