Born in South Africa in May 1950, Martin Plaut received his first degree in
Social Science from the University of Cape Town, and an Honours degree in
Industrial Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand, before going
on to do an MA at the University of Warwick.

In 1978 he worked for a year as an Industrial Relations adviser to Mobil Oil
before joining the British Labour Party as adviser on Africa and the Middle
East. In 1984 he joined the BBC, working primarily on Africa. He is
currently Africa Editor, BBC World Service News. He has reported from most
of East Africa, as well as some parts of West Africa, and specialises in the
Horn of Africa and Southern Africa. He is currently Africa editor, BBC World
Service News.

For two years he was an Associate Fellow of the Royal Institute of
International Affairs, leading their Africa research programme and continues
to be an active member.

Power! Black workers, their unions and the struggle for freedom in South
Africa. Spokesman Press, 1984 (with Denis MacShane and David Ward)

South Africa: Out of the Laager? Fabian Society, 1991

War in the Horn Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1999 (with Patrick
Gilkes)

Unfinished Business: Ethiopia and Eritrea at war Red Sea Press, 2005,
(editor, with Dominique Jacquin-Berdal)

Ethiopia and Eritrea: Allergic to persuasion. Royal Institute of
International Affairs, 2007 (with Sally Healy)

David Killingray, with Martin Plaut: Fighting for Britain. African Soldiers
in the Second World War. Boydell and Brewer. February 2010