Sudan raises price of bread one year after former president Bashir's fall

A tripling of the price of bread had been the trigger for street protests against Bashir in December 2018 - demonstrations that went on for months until the army deposed the longtime ruler on April 11 last year.

Wednesday's change will mean that one Sudanese pound buys only a 50 gram loaf of bread, compared to 70 grams previously, according to Khartoum state governor Ahmed Abdoun.

In mid-December 2018, the price of bread had been hiked from one pound for a 70 gram loaf to three Sudanese pounds in parts of the country, triggering the social unrest that turned into mass anti-Bashir demonstrations.

On Monday, Sudanese took to social media to commemorate the first anniversary of the mass protest that unseated the former president.

On 6 April, Sudanese protesters from across the capital Khartoum and its sister-city Omdurman marched towards the military headquarters.

Organisers had called for a mass demonstration with the hopes of prompting the powerful military to act, after nearly four months of protests against Bashir's regime, which had been met with tear gas, bullets and detentions by security forces.

The date, 6 April, was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the 1985 uprising against military ruler Jaafar Nimeiri.

Just a few days later, on 11 April, the military announced it had toppled Bashir, ending nearly 30 years of his rule. The mass protest also led to the resignation one day later of coup leader Awad Ibn Auf.

Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and other troops allegedly beat, shot and raped demonstrators, injuring thousands and killing dozens. The exact death toll is not known but doctors linked to the protest movement have said at least 129 people died.

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