This archive report was first published on 4 July 2019.
On April 11, Sudan's long-time president Omar al-Bashir was ousted by the army amid rolling anti-regime protests that started in December 2018 over hikes to bread prices.
Initially, there was elation over Bashir's removal, but it soon turned to anger as protesters denounced a 'military coup' and demanded the army hand power to a civilian government.
On April 20, the military rulers held their first round of talks with protest leaders, but it was not until April 27 that a breakthrough was achieved, with both sides agreeing to establish a joint civilian-military ruling council.
However, major differences over the council's composition and leadership soon emerged, with each side wanting its representatives to be in the majority.
On May 2, thousands of demonstrators massed in the capital, with protest leaders accusing the army of not being serious about ceding power.
Despite this, negotiations continued, with the military leaders suspending talks on May 15 and insisting that demonstrators remove barricades set up in the capital.
On May 28-29, thousands of public and private sector workers went on strike across the country to pressure the military rulers.
However, the negotiations broke down on May 20 over the make-up of the new governing body, which was to oversee a three-year transition to civilian rule.
On June 3, a crackdown on protesters began, with men in military fatigues moving in on a major protest camp outside the army headquarters in Khartoum and dispersing the thousands of people gathered there.
Doctors close to the demonstrators reported that more than 100 people were killed on June 3 alone, while the government toll was lower.
The international community condemned the crackdown, with demands for an investigation and calls for the military council to hand power to a civilian government.
On June 9, protest leaders launched a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience that paralysed the country, hitting the economy hard.
However, on June 11, protest leaders agreed to end the disobedience campaign and said they were ready to resume talks.
On June 30, tens of thousands of protesters rallied against the ruling generals in the biggest mass demonstration since the deadly crackdown.
Security forces were deployed en masse, and police fired tear gas at crowds approaching the presidential palace.
State media reported that seven people were killed, but medics linked to the protest movement said five protesters had died.
On July 3, negotiations resumed, with the umbrella protest movement saying that agreement had to be reached 'within 72 hours'.
However, the talks remained deadlocked, with the military council and protest leaders unable to agree on who should head the new governing body.
