By IndraStra Global News Team
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| Cover Image Attribute: In a fiery uprising, thousands of youth protesters gutted Nepal’s Parliament in the heart of Kathmandu. / Source: X |
Nepal is grappling with one of its most severe political crises in decades, as youth-led protests, dubbed the "Gen Z movement," have culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and plunged the Himalayan nation into a state of uncertainty. The unrest, initially sparked by a controversial government ban on social media platforms, has evolved into a broader outcry against systemic corruption, nepotism, and economic stagnation, with demonstrators storming government buildings, setting fires, and clashing with security forces. At least 22 people have been killed and hundreds injured over two days of violent protests, which have seen parliament torched, ministers’ homes attacked, and Kathmandu’s international airport shut down. As the nation teeters on the edge of a power vacuum, the military has called for calm, and the international community watches with growing concern. This is a developing story, with events unfolding rapidly and the future of Nepal’s governance hanging in the balance.
The protests erupted on Monday, September 8, 2025, when thousands of young Nepalis, many in their teens and 20s, gathered in Kathmandu’s Maitighar neighborhood to demand the reversal of a government ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X. The Oli administration had imposed the ban on September 4, citing the platforms’ failure to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and alleging their use in spreading disinformation and cybercrimes. However, critics, including opposition leaders and civil society groups, decried the move as an attempt to suppress dissent and silence voices exposing corruption among Nepal’s political elite. “The government is on a power trip, there is rampant corruption, no one is accountable,” said Yugant Ghimire, a 27-year-old artificial intelligence engineer who joined the protests, in an interview with Al Jazeera. The ban struck a nerve in a country where 90% of the 30 million population uses the internet, and social media serves as a critical tool for communication, business, and political expression, particularly for the youth.
By Monday afternoon, the protests had escalated beyond the social media issue, with demonstrators, many wearing school or college uniforms, chanting slogans like “Shut down corruption, not social media” and “KP Chor, Desh Chhod” (KP is a thief, leave the country). The movement, self-identified as “Gen Z protests,” drew inspiration from recent youth-led uprisings in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, where similar grievances over corruption and misgovernance toppled governments in 2024 and 2022, respectively. Aayush Basyal, a 27-year-old master’s student in Kathmandu, told Al Jazeera that the protests were fueled by long-standing frustrations over high-profile corruption cases, such as a 2017 Airbus deal that cost the national exchequer $10.4 million, and the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ families in a nation where the per capita income is just $1,300 annually. Social media posts highlighting the “luxurious lives of the families and children of corrupt politicians and civil servants” had amplified public anger before the ban was imposed.
As protesters marched toward the parliament complex in Kathmandu on Monday, clashes with security forces turned deadly. Police deployed tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets, but witnesses and human rights groups, including Amnesty International, reported the use of live ammunition. At least 19 people were killed, and over 400 were injured, with some, like 22-year-old university student Tandukar, sustaining bullet wounds. “We were there for a peaceful protest. They were initially firing tear gas at us, and we were pushing back. Suddenly, I was shot,” Tandukar told Al Jazeera from a hospital bed. The United Nations Human Rights Office called for a “prompt and transparent investigation” into the “deeply worrying allegations of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force.” The violence prompted Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak to resign on Monday evening, citing moral responsibility for the deaths.
Despite the government’s decision to lift the social media ban late Monday, the protests intensified on Tuesday, September 9, as demonstrators defied curfews imposed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and other regions. Crowds breached the western gate of Singha Durbar, the government complex housing the prime minister’s office and multiple ministries, and set fire to parts of the federal parliament building. Images of flames and smoke rising from the iconic structure shocked the nation, with protesters also torching Oli’s private residence in Balkot, Bhaktapur, and the homes of several ministers, including Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Paudel, and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. The residence of former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal was also set ablaze, resulting in the tragic death of his wife, Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, according to media reports. Protesters vandalized the central office of Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and the Nepali Congress headquarters in Sanepa, reflecting widespread anger at the political establishment.
The escalating chaos forced Oli, a 73-year-old political veteran in his fourth term as prime minister, to resign on Tuesday afternoon. In his resignation letter to President Ram Chandra Paudel, Oli stated, “In view of the adverse situation in the country, I have resigned effective today to facilitate the solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution.” Reports emerged that Oli, facing mounting pressure and potential threats, was preparing to flee to Dubai under the pretext of medical treatment, with Himalaya Airlines on standby. Visuals showed him leaving his office in a military helicopter, further fueling speculation about his intentions. President Paudel, whose own residence was attacked, also resigned, leaving Nepal in a leadership vacuum.
The protests have exposed deep-seated discontent among Nepal’s youth, who face a 12.6% unemployment rate and widespread economic hardship, according to the 2024 Nepal Living Standard Survey. For years, millions of young Nepalis have migrated to the Middle East, South Korea, and Malaysia for work, sending remittances that prop up the economy but highlight the lack of domestic opportunities. “We want this country corruption-free so everyone can access education, hospitals, medical facilities, and a bright future,” said protester Robin Sreshtha to NDTV. The movement has gained support from figures like Kathmandu’s mayor, Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old rapper who expressed solidarity on social media, though he noted he was “too old” to be part of Gen Z. Protest organizers have issued “non-negotiable demands,” including the dissolution of parliament, mass resignations of parliamentarians, and new elections, signaling their intent to overhaul the political system
The international community has responded with concern. India, a close neighbor hosting thousands of Nepali migrant workers, issued a travel advisory and deployed additional forces along the 1,751-km border to prevent spillover violence. A joint statement from the embassies of Australia, Finland, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, Norway, Germany, and the U.S. expressed sadness over the loss of life and urged restraint. The United Nations, through spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, called for respect for peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. Former Nepali King Gyanendra issued a rare statement expressing sorrow and calling for peace, while China, an ally of Oli, has remained notably silent.
As night fell on Tuesday, the Nepal Army, led by General Ashok Raj Sigdel, was deployed to restore order, with a statement emphasizing the military’s commitment to national unity and territorial integrity. Sigdel invited protesters for dialogue, warning that “some groups are taking undue advantage of the extraordinary circumstances to cause extensive damage.” However, reports of further violence, including the killing of three police officers in Koteshwor after they surrendered, underscored the deteriorating security situation. Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport remained closed, stranding hundreds of passengers, including nearly 700 Indians, as protests disrupted operations with smoke, drones, and laser lights targeting aircraft.
The future of Nepal’s governance remains uncertain. With Oli and Paudel gone, and several ministers resigning, including Agriculture Minister Ram Nath Adhikari, the coalition government between Oli’s Communist Party and the Nepali Congress has collapsed below its majority, raising the prospect of early elections or military intervention, as seen in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Online campaigns have floated names like Mayor Balendra Shah and parliamentarian Sumana Shrestha as potential leaders, but no clear successor has emerged. Protest leader Baniya vowed to continue the movement “indefinitely until our demands are met,” citing a duty to honor those killed. As Nepal navigates this volatile moment, the world watches a nation at a crossroads, with its youth demanding accountability and a new path forward.
This story continues to develop, with further updates expected as Nepal seeks to restore stability and address the grievances of its people.
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