Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has condemned riot and vandalism against state institutions in Brazil.
Odinga's reaction came after former Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro's supporters stormed the country's Congress, the Supreme Court and Presidential Palace in Rio De Janeiro on Sunday.
Bolsonaro's supporters were protesting against his successor and rival, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who was inaugurated on January 1, 2023.
President Lula returned to power following a 12-year hiatus that ended when he defeated Bolsonaro in a run-off election in October 2022.
On Monday, January 9, 2023, Odinga took to Twitter to describe the protests as unfortunate and uncalled for describing the unrest as sad and troubling.
"The attack on democracy and peaceful transfer of power in Brazil is deeply troubling and saddens me. We support President] Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and all who believe in the power of democracy and Brazil's democratic institutions and its people. We must defend the values that underpin our societies," said Odinga.
CNN reported on Monday, January 9 2023, hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters smashed windows and used furniture to form barricades against security forces as they raided the congressional building, the Supreme Court and the presidential Palace.
Following the incident, at least 400 people have so far been arrested.
President Lula has promised to punish those involved in the unrest. He has described events in the capital as barbaric and said a lack of security had allowed Bolsonaro's "fascist" supporters to breach barriers set up by security personnel.
On his part, Bolsonaro condemned the violence noting although peaceful and lawful demonstrations were part of democracy, depredations and invasions of public buildings were uncalled for.
Other leaders who've condemned the unrest include US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.