When it comes to natural resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the world’s richest countries. But after years of internal conflict its citizens are some of the world’s poorest. Today around half the population – some 44 million people – are expected to vote in the presidential elections, despite both logistical and security challenges.

Polling stations opened late in many areas, including the capital Kinshasa. And in the conflict-hit east of Africa’s second largest country, several million people displaced by fighting have struggled to cast their ballots.

The DRC: Election for some of world’s poorest people, in a country rich in natural resources