by the first protests that occurred in Tunisia on 18 December 2010 in Sidi Bouzid, following Mohamed Bouazizi 's self-immolation in protest of police corruption and ill treatment. [ 71 ] [ 72 ] With the success of the protests in Tunisia, a wave of unrest sparked by the Tunisian "Burning Man" struck Algeria , Jordan , Egypt , and Yemen , [ 73 ] then spread to other countries. The largest, most organised demonstrations have often occurred on a "day of rage", usually Friday afternoon prayers. [ 74 ] [ 75 ] [ 76 ] The protests have also triggered similar unrest outside the region . During this period of regional unrest, several leaders announced their intentions to step down at the end of their current terms. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir announced that he would not seek re-election in 2015, [ 77 ] as did Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki , whose term ends in 2014, [ 78 ] although there have been increasingly violent demonstrations demanding his immediate resignation. [ 79 ] Protests in Jordan have also caused the sacking of four successive governments [ 80 ] [ 81 ] by King Abdullah . [ 82 ] The popular unrest in Kuwait has also resulted in resignation of Prime Minister Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah cabinet. [ 83 ] The geopolitical implications of the protests have drawn global attention, [ 84 ] including the suggestion that some protesters may be nominated for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize . [