Congo's Lifeline

LISALA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO MARCH 31: An unidentified boy paddles his wooden dugout canoe on March 31, 2006 outside Lisala, Congo, DRC. He lives in small village along the Congo River and comes to a passing boat to sell fish. The Congo River is a lifeline for millions of people, who depend on it for transport and trade. Many boats travel from Kisangani to Kinshasa, a distance of about 1750 kilometers. The trip takes between 3-7 weeks depending on the boat's schedule. Congo is planning to hold general elections by July 2006, the first democratic elections in forty years. (Photo by Per-Anders Pettersson/Exclusive by Getty Images)