My Upcoming Documentary: A Ground-Level Exposé That Influenced SAMIDRC Withdrawal from Eastern DRC

Rutendo Matinyarare, a Zimbabwean activist and Pan-African commentator, has once again thrust himself into the spotlight with his latest project: an upcoming documentary on the Great Lakes Conflict, centered on his unprecedented visit to the M23 rebels in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Following his on-the-ground engagement in late February and early March 2025, Matinyarare findings are rooted in firsthand evidence—played a pivotal role in prompting the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to withdraw its troops from the volatile region. As of March 13, 2025, SADC announced a “phased withdrawal” of its mission (SAMIDRC), a move political analysts asserts validates his narrative shift and challenges the prevailing discourse on the conflict.

On the Ground with M23

Matinyarare’s journey began in late February 2025, when he traveled to Rwanda and Eastern DRC, a region gripped by escalating violence between the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and Congolese forces. On March 2, he conducted a rare interview with M23 Chairman Bertrand Bisimwa in Bukavu, a city recently seized by the group. This encounter, part of his documentary production, marked a dramatic pivot for Matinyarare, who had previously vilified Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame as a “war monger” and accused M23 of being a tool for resource plunder. Now, he sings a different tune, portraying M23 as a misunderstood force fighting for Congolese Tutsi rights against a neglectful Kinshasa government.

During his visit, Matinyarare documented what he describes as “irrefutable evidence” of stability under M23 control. He toured marketplaces bustling with activity, interviewed residents who praised the rebels’ governance, and filmed infrastructure projects—like road repairs and water points—allegedly spearheaded by M23. “I saw peace where the world sees chaos,” Matinyarare declared in a March 10 social media post. “The narrative of M23 as marauders is a colonial lie, and my footage proves it.” His documentary, tentatively titled Echoes of the Great Lakes, promises to unveil this perspective, blending interviews, drone shots, and raw testimonials from the ground.

The Evidence That Turned the Tide

Matinyarare’s most striking development is that his visit and the evidence he gathered directly influenced SADC’s decision to pull its troops from Eastern DRC. By early 2025, SADC’s mission had suffered significant setbacks: 14 South African soldiers killed in February, three Malawian casualties, and mounting logistical woes as M23 tightened its grip on Goma and Bukavu. Matinyarare argues that his interactions with M23 leaders, particularly Bisimwa’s call for SADC neutrality, exposed the futility of the bloc’s military approach. “I showed the world that M23 isn’t the enemy SADC was sent to fight,” he told supporters in a March 12 livestream. “They’re Congolese citizens demanding justice, not terrorists.”

His documentary footage, some of which he previewed online, reached regional influencers and policymakers through back channels. In Bukavu, Matinyarare filmed M23’s administrative efforts—tax collection, security patrols, and even a makeshift court—suggesting a functioning alternative to Kinshasa’s authority. He contends this evidence, coupled with his viral interview with Bisimwa, shifted perceptions among SADC leaders, who convened a virtual summit on March 13 and opted for withdrawal over further entanglement. “When I sat with Bertrand, he said, ‘Tell SADC to stop fighting us and start listening.’ I did just that, and they heard me,” Matinyarare boasted.

SADC’s Withdrawal: A Victory for Matinyarare’s Vision?

SADC’s announcement on March 13 confirmed the end of SAMIDRC, with leaders citing a need to pivot toward diplomacy—specifically, upcoming Angola-mediated talks between DRC and M23 set for March 18 in Luanda. While official statements attribute the decision to battlefield losses and regional fatigue, Matinyarare insists his ground-level exposé tipped the scales. “My lens showed SADC what their generals couldn’t: M23 isn’t going anywhere, and bleeding troops for Kinshasa’s pride is senseless,” he argued.

Critics, however, remain skeptical.

Analysts point to broader factors—SADC’s overstretched budget, Rwanda’s diplomatic pressure, and the Luanda Process’s faltering momentum—as the true drivers of the withdrawal. “Matinyarare’s visit might’ve made noise, but it’s a stretch to say it dictated SADC policy,” said Dr. Tinashe Mukanya, a Harare-based political scientist. “He’s a storyteller, not a strategist.” Still, Matinyarare’s supporters hail him as a visionary who pierced the veil of Western propaganda, forcing a regional reckoning.

What’s Next for the Documentary—and Matinyarare

Set for release in mid-2025, Echoes of the Great Lakes aims to cement Matinyarare’s transformation from critic to chronicler. Beyond M23, he hints at exploring Rwanda’s development model—showcasing sites like the Trinity Nyakabingo Tungsten Mine—and framing it as a blueprint for Africa. Yet, his newfound alignment with Rwanda and M23 has fuelled accusations of co-optation, with detractors suggesting he’s traded principles for access. “I’m not bought; I’m enlightened,” he retorts, promising a film that will “rewrite the Great Lakes story.”

For now, Matinyarare revels in the SADC withdrawal as proof of his influence. Whether his documentary will reshape global understanding of the DRC conflict or merely amplify his own legend remains to be seen. One thing is certain: from the streets of Bukavu to the corridors of regional power, Rutendo Matinyarare has ensured his voice—and his camera—cannot be ignored.