Angelina Jolie Backs Muganga Film, Warns of 48 Rapes an Hour

Hollywood star and humanitarian Angelina Jolie has thrown her weight behind “Muganga: Celui qui soigne” (Muganga, The One Who Treats), a new film about Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Denis Mukwege. Jolie is serving as an executive producer and has been promoting the film with a stark message: “Forty‑eight women an hour are raped and mutilated in Congo.” The figure, cited by researchers during the height of the conflict, underscores the staggering scale of sexual violence in the Democratic  Republic of  Congo  (DRC). Jolie has insisted that the world cannot ignore the connection between consumer convenience and Congolese suffering. The film shows how the demand for coltan, a mineral used to make the capacitors in mobile phones, fuels armed groups that use rape as a weapon to control mining areas.

In a recent statement, Jolie praised Mukwege as “one of the greatest advocates of our time” and called him “a healer of minds and bodies.” She has worked with him for more than a decade. Although Mukwege’s efforts have saved thousands of women, Jolie argues that impunity persists and the situation is worsening. “We can no longer accept silence,” she said, urging viewers of the film to recognise that the minerals in their phones are tied to sexual violence and to demand accountability from the companies and governments benefiting from Congo’s wealth.

Who Is Dr. Denis Mukwege and Why Does the Film Matter?

Dr Denis Mukwege is a Congolese gynaecologist and founder of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu. Since 1999, he and his team have treated tens of thousands of women and girls who were raped during conflict. Mukwege has survived assassination attempts and continues to denounce the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war. His holistic approach provides medical, psychological, legal, and socio‑economic support for survivors. In 2018, he shared the Nobel Peace Prize for “his efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.”

“Muganga: Celui qui soigne,” directed by French filmmaker Marie‑Hélène Roux and produced by Cynthia Pinet, dramatizes Mukwege’s partnership with Belgian surgeon Guy‑Bernard Cadière. The film follows Mukwege’s daily work and the courage of the women who rebuild their lives. According to an AFP report, the biopic also highlights that the conflict in eastern Congo is a “forgotten war” and that violence is escalating because Rwanda‑backed rebels such as M23 have overrun parts of the region.

Jolie joined the project because she believes a feature film can reach audiences who might “close their eyes” during a documentary. She hopes it will spark conversations about the cost of the electronics we use and the heroism of Congolese survivors.

Why Genocost and Coltan Are Central

Eastern Congo is rich in minerals, including coltan, gold, and cobalt, but this wealth has brought suffering. Armed groups, some backed by neighbouring Rwanda, fight to control mining sites and finance their operations. Sexual violence is used strategically to terrorise communities and force people off resource‑rich land. During the peak of conflict, researchers estimated that 48 women were raped every hour; advocacy groups say the real number is likely higher. The Panzi Foundation notes that rape is employed to instil fear, destabilise communities, and enable militias to exploit mines.

This pattern has led Congolese activists to adopt the term “Genocost” genocide linked to economic exploitation, to describe decades of massacres, rape, and displacement fuelled by the illegal extraction of resources. On 2 August 2025, a national day of remembrance, President Félix Tshisekedi urged parliament to recognise the mass killings and rapes as genocide. He pledged to take the campaign to international forums.

Public Calls for Justice: Tshisekedi’s UN Appeal

At the United Nations General Assembly on 23 September 2025, Tshisekedi called the violence in eastern Congo a “silent genocide.” Speaking before world leaders, he demanded the withdrawal of Rwandan troops, an end to support for the M23 rebels, and the restoration of Congolese state authority. He urged the UN to recognise the genocide, impose targeted sanctions on those responsible for war crimes, and end the illicit mineral trade that finances the violence. Tshisekedi’s speech echoed the “Genocost” campaign’s demands and signalled that Congo would pursue justice even if the world hesitates.

Jolie’s comments dovetail with this diplomatic push. By linking sexual violence to the global electronics supply chain and warning that 48 women an hour are raped in Congo, she amplifies Tshisekedi’s plea for recognition and accountability. Her involvement shows how international celebrities can draw attention to issues that might otherwise be ignored. Social media users have praised Jolie’s advocacy, with Congolese activists sharing the film’s trailer and urging viewers to boycott “conflict minerals.” Some commenters also criticised Western governments for condemning atrocities abroad while benefiting from coltan extracted in Congo.

Her History of Controversy and Courage

Angelina Jolie’s activism on sexual violence in conflict is long‑standing. As a UN special envoy, she co‑hosted the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London in 2014, where she urged governments to treat wartime rape as a major international crime. In the years since, she has visited refugee camps in Syria, Yemen, and Myanmar and has produced films such as “In the Land of Blood and Honey” to spotlight atrocities. By supporting “Muganga,” she deepens her involvement in Congo.

The partnership with Mukwege has also drawn criticism from those who argue that high‑profile Western figures can eclipse local voices. But Jolie insists that the film centres on Congolese survivors and is co‑produced with African artists. Jolie’s stance aligns with calls for justice. The film’s message, linking consumer electronics, rape, and genocide, reflects the publication’s editorial line.

Context of Sexual Violence and Minerals

Congo’s wars have claimed an estimated 9 million lives since the mid‑1996s. United Nations reports have documented widespread sexual violence, noting that rebels and some government soldiers have used rape to intimidate civilians and control territory. The Panzi Foundation warns that beyond physical injuries, survivors face long‑term trauma and stigma. Mukwege’s holistic care model at Panzi Hospital offers medical treatment, counselling, and legal assistance, but the scale of abuse means that many survivors still lack support. Activists argue that until the demand for Congo’s minerals is separated from armed groups, through international regulation and supply‑chain transparency, the cycle of violence will continue.

A Global Call to Action

Jolie’s support for “Muganga: Celui qui soigne” is both a cinematic endorsement and a rallying cry. She reminds audiences that their phones and electronic devices may contain minerals extracted under conditions of terror. Her warning that 48 women an hour are raped in Congo, alongside Tshisekedi’s UN plea to recognise a “silent genocide”, demands that the international community act.

A just response would include holding Rwandan‑backed militias and corrupt officials accountable, supporting an international tribunal to investigate the Genocost, and enforcing laws on conflict minerals. It also requires consumers and technology companies to ensure their supply chains do not fund atrocities. As the film hits cinemas, Jolie and Mukwege hope that viewers will not only be moved but will join the call for accountability, recognition of Congo’s tragedy, and support for the survivors who have endured unimaginable violence. Until then, Congo’s people continue to suffer in the shadows, an injustice the world can no longer ignore.