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David Pilling

Africa Editor

David Pilling is the Africa editor and a columnist at the Financial Times. He covers business, politics and development on the continent and writes a regular column on topics from Africa. Before that he was the Asia editor and assistant editor. Previous roles include Tokyo bureau chief, pharmaceuticals correspondent, deputy features editor and correspondent in Buenos Aires and Santiago.

He is the author of two books - The Growth Delusion (2018), shortlisted for the Orwell Prize, and the highly acclaimed Bending Adversity: Japan and the Art of Survival (2016).

He is a regular moderator and speaker both for the FT and for organisations including the World Bank, OECD and ADB. In 2023 he briefed a G7 meeting in Kamakura, Japan on the ideas behind his book, The Growth Delusion.

Email David Pilling @davidpilling  on Twitter (link opens in a new browser window)
  • Wednesday, 19 June, 2024
    South Africa
    Investors cheer as Ramaphosa sworn in as South Africa’s president

    Rand and equities rise after African National Congress seals power-sharing agreement with Democratic Alliance

    Cyril Ramaphosa, right, is inaugurated as South Africa’s president for a second term on Wednesday
  • Thursday, 13 June, 2024
    South African politics
    South Africa’s ANC has outline of a deal on new government, says official

    The country is poised to have a multi-party coalition administration led by Cyril Ramaphosa

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with National Executive Committee members Paul Mashatile and Gwede Mantashe
  • Wednesday, 12 June, 2024
    The Big Read
    Can the party that liberated South Africa still hold it together?

    Facing a Friday deadline to create a new coalition government, President Cyril Ramaphosa is trying to prevent economic chaos while avoiding new splits in the ANC

  • Friday, 7 June, 2024
    South Africa
    South African opposition parties cool on Ramaphosa’s unity government plan

    Leaders of EFF and MK pour cold water on proposal for coalition that includes centrist DA

    Julius Malema addresses the media
  • Friday, 7 June, 2024
    South Africa
    South Africa opposition group claims Russia is funding Jacob Zuma’s party

    Former president’s upstart MK party accused of being extremely well financed

    Jacob Zuma
  • Thursday, 6 June, 2024
    Special ReportAfrica’s Fastest Growing Companies
    Kenya’s Quick Mart confronts tough business conditions

    After initial breakneck expansion, growth has slowed somewhat at country’s second largest supermarket chain

    The exterior of a Quick Mart supermarket is shown, with the store’s name in bold red letters and a “Fresh & Easy” logo next to it. The sign above the entrance indicates the store is open 24/7. Large windows display promotional posters featuring fresh produce and other food items. A few people are seen walking outside, and a security guard stands at the entrance
  • Thursday, 6 June, 2024
    FT News Briefing podcast12 min listen
    The split road for South Africa

    African National Congress has to play nice with rival parties

  • Thursday, 6 June, 2024
    Special ReportAfrica’s Fastest Growing Companies
    Africa businesses struggle to recover from Covid pandemic

    List of top 125 shows companies that have performed well in difficult times

    An illustration shows four people engaging in various shopping activities using giant smartphone screens as doorways. On the far left, a woman carries a basket on her head while opening a refrigerated section of a phone. Next, an older woman walks out of a phone carrying shopping bags. In the third phone, a young man picks fresh produce handed to him by a vendor. On the far right, a man in a red shirt, possibly a store employee, smiles and waves from behind another smartphone screen. The scene is set against an orange sky and grassy ground
  • Thursday, 6 June, 2024
    Special ReportAfrica’s Fastest Growing Companies
    Africa healthcare start-ups focus on sight and sound

    Enterprises address gaps in basic areas after Covid pandemic exposed continent’s reliance on outside suppliers

    A close-up view of a smartphone being used as a medical device. In the background is a young child lying on a bed, appearing to be examined.
  • Wednesday, 5 June, 2024
    South African politics
    ANC considers national unity government in South Africa

    Party has been locked in talks with rivals after losing its 30-year parliamentary majority in shock election result

    Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri giving a speech
  • Tuesday, 4 June, 2024
    South Africa
    ANC internal memo advises coalition with centrist Democratic Alliance

    Discussion follows shock South African election in which the ruling party was stripped of its majority

    South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa attends the election results ceremony on Sunday
  • Tuesday, 4 June, 2024
    News in-depthZambia
    Elephant invasion pits Zambian villagers against conservationists

    Devastation caused by animals highlights tensions between global environmentalists and locals that live alongside wildlife

    An elephant in Zambia
  • Monday, 3 June, 2024
    South African politics
    ANC begins coalition talks as Ramaphosa eyes unity government

    President thought to be seeking a deal with centrist DA but others want a pact with Jacob Zuma’s MK

    Cyril Ramaphosa smiles as he leaves after the announcement of the election results
  • Sunday, 2 June, 2024
    South African politics
    South Africa’s ‘humbled’ ANC stands by Cyril Ramaphosa

    Ruling party insists it will not be ‘bullied’ into removing President Cyril Ramaphosa despite poor result

  • Saturday, 1 June, 2024
    South Africa
    ANC weighs coalition options after crushing South Africa election blow

    Party which has governed since first post-apartheid election slumps to 40 per cent in the polls

  • Friday, 31 May, 2024
    News in-depthAfrican National Congress
    South African voters put weakened ANC in bind

    Party might be forced into a coalition with radical left-wingers or a free-market group

    Voters wait in line in South Africa
  • Friday, 31 May, 2024
    South Africa
    Ramaphosa’s future in doubt after disappointing South African election

    Senior figures in ruling ANC debate next move after party’s worst-ever poll performance

    Cyril Ramaphosa speaking into microphones
  • Thursday, 30 May, 2024
    Instant InsightSouth African politics
    The era of ANC dominance in South Africa is over

    Politics in the country has fragmented — possibly for good

    ANC marshals at a pre-election rally
  • Thursday, 30 May, 2024
    South African politics
    ANC on course to lose majority after ‘watershed’ South African election

    Incoming poll results suggest ruling party will need coalition partners to hold on to power 

    Two people emptying a ballot box on to the floor while other people look on
  • Thursday, 30 May, 2024
    The Big Read
    The UAE’s rising influence in Africa

    As China steps back, the oil-rich Gulf state has become an important source of foreign investment — but with fresh layers of complexity

    Montage showing UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan with UAE flag and African map in the background
  • Tuesday, 28 May, 2024
    South Africa
    South African business grows hopeful of smooth election outcome

    Executives confident that if ANC wins it can avoid coalition with more radical parties

    Political posters on a street
  • Monday, 27 May, 2024
    South African politics
    South Africa’s ANC makes billion-dollar pledges ahead of election

    Populist measures include universal health insurance and basic income grant for unemployed

    South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa greets supporters at an election rally
  • Thursday, 23 May, 2024
    Disease control and prevention
    Djibouti looks to genetically engineered mosquitoes to quell urban malaria wave

    Anopheles stephensi modified so that the biting females would die

    Anopheles stephensi mosquito
  • Thursday, 23 May, 2024
    Global InsightWilliam Ruto
    US ‘feel good’ factor on Kenya’s William Ruto only goes so far

    State visit is remarkable turnaround for one-time pariah but his attempt to woo Washington has its limits

    Meg Whitman, US ambassador to Nairobi, with Kenya’s president William Ruto
  • Wednesday, 22 May, 2024
    South Africa
    South Africa’s blackouts crisis is ‘fixed’, says Eskom

    Chair of state-owned utility makes claim about outages days ahead of crucial vote for ruling ANC

    A shop owner picks an item for a customer by candlelight during power outages by South African utility Eskom
Previous page You are on page 1 Next page

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