Maranhão leads increase in Brazil rural conflicts

The Comissão Pastoral da Terra (CPT) reported an increase in rural conflicts in Brazil during the first half of 2026, with 841 total cases recorded compared to 798 during the same period in 2025. Maranhão led the country with 156 conflicts, followed by Pará with 90 and Bahia with 85.

Most of these disputes involved land, accounting for 711 cases. While overall conflicts rose, rural homicides saw a significant decrease, dropping from 13 in the first half of 2025 to six in 2026.

Key drivers of violence include pesticide contamination, territory invasions, illegal deforestation, and eviction threats, often linked to agribusiness expansion. Additionally, conflicts over water resources more than doubled, rising from 47 to 100 cases, with significant tensions reported in Pará regarding river privatization and mining activities.