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Mission Congo is a documentary film released in 2013, directed by David Turner and Adam Zucker. The film delves into the story of televangelist Pat Robertson's humanitarian aid mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the country's war-torn period in the late 1990s. The movie initially introduces Pat Robertson, a highly influential Christian televangelist, and his organization, Operation Blessing International (OBI). The film shows how Robertson and his organization fundraise through broadcasts and magazines, promising to use the funds for humanitarian and charitable purposes. The movie then moves on to focus on a specific mission, a relief operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 1994, Congo was in a state of civil war that had started after the Rwandan genocide. The country was grappling with food shortages, diseases, and general poverty. Robertson, through OBI, pledged to provide relief in the area. He claimed that OBI's planes would carry food, medicine, and water to people in need.

However, as the documentary unfolds, it becomes clear that things are not as they seem. Mission Congo reveals that the operation was a cover-up for a mining venture in the region. In 1997, during his visit to Congo, Robertson met with Congolese dictator Mobutu Sese Seko who granted him permission to mine diamonds.

The film showcases how the diamond mining operation was carried out under the guise of a humanitarian mission. OBI's planes reportedly smuggled mining equipment and supplies instead of food and medicine. The operation was based on a remote airstrip in Angola and run by a group of mercenaries, many of them former apartheid-era soldiers.

One of the main characters in the film is Robert Hinkle, a former OBI pilot, and later the whistleblower who exposed the mining venture. Hinkle candidly shares his experience of how things were on the ground during the operation. He recounts how he was asked to transport drilling equipment and workers to the mining site while people in the area were dying of starvation and illness. He also speaks of how he began to suspect that the mission was not what he thought it was.

Mission Congo also features interviews with Congolese people who were reportedly promised food and aid but never received it. They tell their stories of how they suffered during the war and have continued to suffer in the aftermath. One woman recounts how she gave birth to her child in a refugee camp but had no supplies or assistance.

The film also exposes the issue of conflict diamonds and how the trade has fueled conflicts in Africa. It raises questions about the role of Western powers and corporations in exploiting resources and people in the region.

Overall, Mission Congo is a gripping documentary that sheds light on the darker side of humanitarian aid and charity work. It questions the motives of those who claim to provide assistance and how their actions often have hidden agendas. The film showcases the need for transparency and accountability in the aid industry and the importance of listening to the voices of those who are affected by crises.

Mission Congo is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 8 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.3.