Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Democratic Republic of Congo's main rebel leader yesterday promised his support for a ceasefire and UN efforts to end the fighting.
As more heavy fighting was reported in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo met rebel leader Laurent Nkunda for the first time, after talking in recent days with President Joseph Kabila and the leader of neighbouring Angola.
Mr Obasanjo, acting as a UN envoy, flew by helicopter to the rebel-held town of Jomba near the Ugandan border, and was greeted with a hug by the grey-suited Mr Nkunda.
After a two-hour meeting in a church compound, Mr Obasanjo said the rebel leader agreed to maintain a fragile cease fire in the Central African nation.
"(But) cease fire maintenance is like dancing tango. One does not dance tango alone," Mr Obasanjo said.
In a policy shift, Mr Nkunda applauded Mr Obasanjo's involvement in Congo's crisis.
"Today is a great day for us because we were losing many men and material. Now we have a message of peace. We should work with this mission," Mr Nkunda said, adding that the DR Congolese government had to support the cease fire as well.
Later in the regional capital of Goma, Mr Obasanjo said he expected talks between the warring parties to take place in Nairobi, Kenya. He gave no date, though, and said it was unlikely there would be face-to-face talks between Mr Kabila and Mr Nkunda.
Mr Obasanjo was due in Rwanda later today for talks with that country's president, Paul Kagame, who wields strong influence over Mr Nkunda.
Mr Nkunda, a former general, quit DR Congo's army in 2004 and launched a rebellion he claims is aimed at protecting ethnic Tutsis from Hutu militias who fled to DR Congo after Rwanda's 1994 genocide that left more than 500,000 mostly Tutsis dead.
Critics, however, say Mr Nkunda is more interested in power and the country's mineral wealth.
Ahead of the talks, clashes broke out in Ndeko, about 55 miles north of Goma, according Colonel Jean-Paul Dietrich, a spokesman for the 17,000-strong peacekeeping mission.
Mr Dietrich described the morning battle between government soldiers and rebels as "heavy" and said six army troops were wounded.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments