The Makala Paradox:
Each evening, as twilight settles over Kinshasa, Goma, and Lubumbashi, the skyline is marked by rising plumes of grey smoke—a testament to the central role of makala, or wood charcoal, in Congolese daily life. Despite the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) vast rivers and bountiful mineral resources, more than 90% of its population remains dependent on wood fuel and charcoal for cooking. For tens of millions, charcoal is not a mere preference but a necessity for survival. Charcoal’s domina
