DRC: Rich Land, Hard Lives

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a place of staggering scale—nearly one-quarter the size of the U.S.—and staggering contrast. It holds some of the most critical tropical forests in the world, vast rivers and hydroelectric potential, and mineral resources that touch everything from luxury markets to smartphones. And yet, it remains one of the most overlooked humanitarian crises on earth.

I traveled to eastern Congo to document what remains of a country shaped by decades of war and the consequences of global demand. Though the official war ended in 2002, violence continues to simmer, especially in the east. Over five million people have died since 1998—more than half a million in the years after peace was declared.

What I witnessed was not just war but the tension between abundance and collapse. I photographed in communities where people are rebuilding from ruins, navigating corruption, lawlessness, and extreme poverty with quiet determination. My work focused on those who live closest to the country's fractured promise: miners, mothers, displaced families, and local peacekeepers holding it all together.

A person in traditional clothing walking in front of stone walls with houses and a mountain in the background on a cloudy day.

A group of women and children outdoors, some smiling and talking, with a cloudy sky in the background.

Three young children standing outdoors on a hillside with a town and hills in the background, two boys and a girl, in casual and traditional clothing, black and white photo.

A man looking at political campaign posters on a worn wall in an urban setting. The posters feature various candidates, some with text in French, suggesting a political context.

Three children stand outside in front of a mud wall with a thatched roof, looking directly at the camera. They are wearing simple clothing, with two girls and one boy.

A young woman wearing a patterned headscarf in the foreground, with a group of women wearing masks and traditional clothing in the background, in a black and white photo.

A smiling man raising both arms in celebration among a crowd of people outdoors on a cloudy day.

Group of women and girls standing outdoors, dressed in traditional clothing, facing different directions, with clouds in the sky above.

A busy street scene in a rural area with numerous people walking, riding bikes and motorbikes, and driving cars. There are small shops and market stalls lining the street, with utility poles and wires overhead. The atmosphere appears lively and bustl

A black and white photo of a rural village street with people walking and riding bikes, surrounded by small houses, trees, and utility poles.

Black and white photo of four women, two wearing head coverings, gathered around a bed with a person lying on it, in a room with a plain wall and a mosquito net hanging overhead.

Two people sitting on the floor in a tiled room with large windows, working with bread and dough, backlit by natural light.

Children in traditional attire performing a cultural dance or ritual on the ground while a crowd looks on in the background.

A group of farmers in traditional clothing with wide-brimmed hats and headscarves, carrying tools like hoes and machetes, walking on a hillside farm with terraced fields and trees in the background.

Black and white photo of people sitting side by side on a bench, showing their hands and legs, with some folded and some resting on their laps. They are dressed in patterned skirts and pants.

Black and white photograph of a river flowing through a valley with dense trees on both sides, layers of hills and lakes in the distance under a cloudy sky.

Black and white photo of children standing in line outdoors, wearing school uniforms, with trees and cloudy sky in the background.

A group of people in a church, with one person performing or dancing in the center. The image is black and white.

Classroom with students raising their hands in a black and white photo.

Students sitting in a classroom, listening and taking notes, with a bright light coming from a window behind them.

Black and white photo of children in a classroom, with two boys standing at the blackboard while others sit at desks and watch. The blackboard has handwritten notes and sketches in French, describing different types of lines.

Silhouettes of two children pouring water into a bucket, with one holding a cup and the other holding a container, near an open door with light coming through.

Black and white photo of a young woman standing outdoors with her arms crossed, looking down, surrounded by trees and with an urban area in the background.

Three young African children standing outdoors in a line, looking at the camera, with trees and foliage in the background, captured in black and white.

A woman in traditional clothing and headwrap holding a cabbage or leafy vegetable in an outdoor setting with wooden structures in the background.

Black and white photo of seven children inside a room with makeshift walls made of plastic and fabric, with some children looking at the camera and others looking elsewhere.

A person with a bare back washing a rock in water, surrounded by foliage, black and white photo.

Children in school uniforms dancing and playing together outdoors, holding hands, with happy and joyful expressions.