Sudan has seen for nearly four months protests against rising bread prices before it ousts President Omar al-Bashir, who ruled the country for 30 years.

Forty-nine people have been killed since the protests, launched at the invitation of a gathering of Sudanese professionals, have arrested thousands of demonstrators, authorities said.

Prices of bread
On December 19, 2018, hundreds of Sudanese demonstrated in several cities following a government decision to triple the price of bread after three weeks of market shortages. Protesters burned the headquarters of the ruling party in three places.

The events coincided with the return of opposition Sadiq al-Mahdi to the country, after a year-long absence. Mahdi is the leader of the Umma party and was prime minister in 1989 when he was ousted from power by Omar al-Bashir's coup.

Cheers of freedom
A day after the protests erupted, protesters chanted "freedom" and "the people want to overthrow the regime." Eight of them were killed in clashes with security forces.

Demonstrations were renewed the following day in the neighboring cities of Khartoum and Omdurman. Three days later Omar el-Bashir appeared for the first time promising "serious reforms."

On 25 December, Amnesty International confirmed that 37 demonstrators had been "shot dead" since the movement began, and the United Kingdom, the United States, Norway and Canada called on Khartoum "to avoid firing live bullets at demonstrators, arbitrary arrest and repression."

The Sudanese president then spoke of "traitors, agents and mercenaries" who were "sabotaging" state institutions.

Bashir ruled Sudan after a military coup (European)

Change the system
On January 1, 2019, some 20 political parties called for regime change. Four days later, Omar al-Bashir, the health minister, was sacked after rising drug prices.

On the 9th of the same month, riot police fired live bullets inside a hospital while chasing people injured during demonstrations in Omdurman, according to Amnesty International.

On January 13, demonstrations were first staged in Darfur, west of the country.

Hold on to power
Bashir announced a day later that the protests would not change the regime. Days later, the authorities withdrew funds that were granted to correspondents and journalists in foreign media.

On February 11, Human Rights Watch published videos condemning security forces' use of violence against demonstrators, including firing live ammunition.

On 21 February, activists and opponents were arrested during a new demonstration that was heading towards the presidential palace.

case of emergency
The next day, the Sudanese president declared a state of emergency and dismissed the government. On the 24th of the same month, the new Prime Minister Mohamed Tahir Ayala was sworn in, at a time when the demonstrators did not retreat from demanding the departure of President Bashir.

On March 1, Bashir handed over the presidency of the NCP to Ahmed Harun. The pace of demonstrations has slowed due to the state of emergency and arrests, but continued in Khartoum and Omdurman.

Demonstrators chant to end three decades of Bashir rule (Reuters)

Democratic transition
On 9 April, members of the security forces fired tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters near the headquarters of the army. Witnesses said the army fired shots in the air to keep the security forces away.

On the same day, the police ordered their troops to "not be exposed to civilians and peaceful gatherings," and pointed to the importance of "consensus on the peaceful transfer of power."

Eleven people were killed that day, including six members of the security forces during demonstrations in Khartoum, according to a government spokesman.

The overthrow of Bashir
On April 11, on the sixth day of the sit-in outside the headquarters of the armed forces, Sudanese Defense Minister Awad bin Awaf announced the "uprooting" of President Omar al-Bashir's regime and the detention of the president "in a safe place."

He also announced "the formation of a transitional military council to manage the rule of the country for a two-year transitional period."

The 24-hour airspace and border entrances were closed "until further notice".

The army imposed a one-night night curfew throughout the country.

Organizers of the protests against the Sudanese regime declared that "the authorities of the regime carried out a military coup," rejecting the "coup d'etat" and called for the continuation of the sit-in.