Darfuri rebels reach outskirts of Khartoum, Sudanese Cairenes watch with rapt attention

Darfuri rebels from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have reached the outskirts of Khartoum today, clashing with Sudanese armed forces, who have set up checkpoints and have instituted a city-wide curfew. Residents have been told to clear the streets and armored motor vehicles have been patrolling the city. Sudanese populations have been watching these events unfold with rapt attention throughout Cairo, glued to their television sets at home and in coffee shops.

This is the closest that the JEM have ever gotten to the capital, which until last year had confined its activities to Darfur. Along with other groups, such as the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), the JEM have been fighting the government over alleged discrimination in favor of Arabs and support of the Janjaweed militia, accused of the worst atrocities in Darfur, allegations that the Sudanese government deny.

Since 2003, an estimated 200,000 people have died in Darfur and 2.5 million have fled to seek refuge elsewhere, with Cairo having one of the largest concentrations of Sudanese refugees. Currently, there are tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees as living in Egypt, with unofficial estimates of the actual number being much higher.

Needless to say, the Sudanese population in Egypt will continue to follow closely the outcomes of today's events.