January 12 – Estimates put the turnout of the referendum for the south's independence at over 60%, passing the threshold for the result to be declared valid.[7]
January 16 – Southern Sudanese leaderSalva Kiir calls on the people of the south to forgive the north for the civil war.[8]
January 18 – Three Sudanese military officers are killed in clashes with rebels in western Darfur.[9]
January 21 – 21 people are killed in clashes between government forces and rebels in Darfur.[10] In the south, almost 99% of voters support splitting from the north.[11]
January 25 – The government and theSudan Liberation Army clash for the second time in a week with claims by insurgents of shooting down helicopters killing 3. The government denies this claiming that 25 rebels were killed.[12]
January 30 –Hundreds of protesters take to the streets inspired by the protests inTunisia andEgypt inKhartoum against the government, demanding resignation of President al-Bashir. The protests are met with brutal force from riot police including tear gassing and beating.[13]
January 31 – A student protester is killed by riot police in Khartoum.[14] The south also declares it will secede from Sudan on July 9, 2011, after a result of 99% in favour of independence.[15]
May 5 – The government passes a bill to approve the creation of two new states in Darfur's existing three, outraging rebels who see it as a way of the government to increase power.[30]
May 10 – Over 80 people are killed in an attack by insurgents on a cattle camp in southern Sudan.[31] In the Abyei region, 4 UN peacekeepers are shot.[32]
May 18 – Sudanese jets bomb a village in Darfur according to the UN.[33]
May 21 – Southern Sudan claims that Sudan has begun invading the Abyei region.[34] The government takes control of it with the UN confirming the events.[35]
May 24 – The UN reveals that over 20,000 people have fled Abyei to southern Sudan after the takeover of the region 3 days ago.[37] In response to this, a southern minister resigns.[38]
May 26 – Salva Kiir demands Sudan withdraw from Abyei and declares there will be no war.[39]
May 31 – Kiir and al-Bashir agree to demilitarise the border at Abyei.[40]
