David Pilling | Financial Times

Tuesday, 8 November, 2022

Special ReportManaging Climate Change

Appetite for charcoal threatens ‘lungs of Africa’

Some businesses are starting to develop alternatives to the cooking fuel

Friday, 4 November, 2022

South Africa

South Africa warns $8.5bn climate package risks fuelling debt burden

International financing aimed at curbing reliance on coal relies too heavily on loans, says Pretoria

Wednesday, 2 November, 2022

The Big Read

The cost of getting South Africa to stop using coal

Rich countries pledged $8.5bn to help the country shift away from dirty energy. But a year on, negotiations are strained

Friday, 21 October, 2022

Climate change

Why Africa is central to the climate change conundrum

Unless we expect the continent to stay poor forever, its carbon emissions will rise dramatically

Tuesday, 18 October, 2022

DR Congo

DR Congo leader rules out deploying Russian mercenaries to quell rebels

Félix Tshisekedi says country will rely on its own army to fight militia as he pledges to push ahead with economic plans

Tuesday, 20 September, 2022

InterviewOil & Gas industry

European Investment Bank resists pressure to fund gas projects

Tensions grow between Europe and Africa over what constitutes a ‘just’ energy transition

Tuesday, 20 September, 2022

News in-depthDemographics and population

Niger questions wisdom of sustaining world’s highest birth rate

President comes out against polygamy and early marriage in an attempt to shift social norms

Monday, 19 September, 2022

Nigeria

How Nigeria’s state lost the trust of its citizens

The government collects a tiny fraction of output in taxes, with the result that the populace expects very little in return

Monday, 19 September, 2022

African economy

Turbulence in Nigeria dollar market hits airlines and investors

Chronic shortage of currency tips into crisis as African power giant fails to profit from rising oil prices

Monday, 5 September, 2022

Kenya

William Ruto’s election victory upheld by Kenya’s supreme court

Losing candidate had lodged several petitions to have result overturned

Friday, 2 September, 2022

Africa

Why the US is re-engaging with Africa

China has built much of the continent’s infrastructure while Russia has deployed mercenaries to prop up dictatorships

Friday, 26 August, 2022

Special ReportAfrican Development

Pandemic sets Africa’s sights on vaccine independence

Covid exposed Africa’s dependence on overseas production but local initiatives show potential

Friday, 26 August, 2022

Special ReportAfrican Development

Africa’s smallholders need to go beyond subsistence

Raising yields will not only improve lives but could also be an important factor driving national development

Friday, 26 August, 2022

Special ReportAfrican Development

Africa resists pressure to put emissions before growth

Countries point to hypocrisy from the west and point out that hundreds of millions of Africans still lack access to basic electricity

Friday, 26 August, 2022

Special ReportAfrican Development

Africa’s search for lasting route out of poverty proves elusive

Explanations for continent’s struggle to develop are complex and disputed

Tuesday, 2 August, 2022

The Big Read

Why famine in Madagascar is an alarm bell for the planet

The UN says it is the first famine caused by climate change. Those caught up in it describe a desperate fight to survive

Thursday, 28 July, 2022

Bangladesh

What Bangladesh can teach others about development

Despite the country’s current financial difficulties, nations in Africa can learn from its rapid progress

Tuesday, 26 July, 2022

War in Ukraine

Russian foreign minister seeks to bolster alliances during Africa tour

Sergei Lavrov aims to combat idea that Ukraine invasion has caused higher food and fertiliser prices

Sunday, 10 July, 2022

African economy

Calls for a just energy transition in Africa carry echoes of elite panic

Poor nations are right to point out the hypocrisy of demands they abandon fossil fuels — but its benefits must help their people

Thursday, 7 July, 2022

The Big Read

Niger: the west’s bulwark against jihadis and Russian influence in Africa

The country is emerging as a critical ally in a neighbourhood of failing states

Monday, 27 June, 2022

Special ReportThe Future of Cities

Africa’s looming urban population explosion

The continent’s cities will expand fast this century — as will the challenges they face

Monday, 20 June, 2022

News in-depthEthiopia

After the war ends, can Ethiopia’s economic ‘miracle’ get back on track?

Until the conflict, Africa’s second-most populous country had been regarded as one of its most promising economies

Monday, 13 June, 2022

African politics

Kenya’s political titans gear up for electoral fight

Voters in east African powerhouse hope for change in one of year’s most crucial polls

Wednesday, 8 June, 2022

Nigeria

Nigeria’s presidential election to be fought by wealthy political insiders

Ruling party selects kingpin Bola Tinubu after main opposition chose former vice-president Atiku Abubakar as its candidate

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