Living in darkness: Poverty and pollution in oil-rich Congo

Behind their homes is an oil pipeline and above them are high-voltage cables suspended between pylons. A little further off is a flare tower, burning off excess gas 24 hours a day.

Yet these potent symbols of Congo’s oil and gas bonanza mean little to the villagers who live in their shadow.

When darkness falls, they have to fire up a generator or light lamps. None of their homes has mains electricity.

“I’m 68 years old and I live in darkness,” said Florent Makosso, seated beneath a giant banana tree.