NEPAL, Kathmandu – The Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of Nepal resigned yesterday, after days of nationwide protests led by young people. The demonstrations erupted over a government decision to block 26 social media sites, including Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and X.
What began as opposition to the online ban soon grew into anger about deep corruption, political favouritism, and a lack of economic progress. The events, now often called the “Gen Z Revolution,” brought thousands of young Nepali citizens to the streets.
Many ignored police curfews, stormed government offices, and set fire to the homes of senior politicians. Oli’s resignation, after decades in politics and at the head of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), is a key moment in the country’s turbulent modern history. But the move has not ended the street protests or eased public outrage.
The Nepal Social Media Blackout
Problems escalated when the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology suspended access to 26 social media platforms on 4 September. The ministry said this was necessary to tackle fake news, online hate, and cybercrime.
Officials also demanded that these companies name local representatives and follow Nepali law. Many people, especially younger Nepalese, saw this as a clampdown on free speech. Social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X are vital for communication and activism. A 2021 Nepal Telecommunications Authority report showed around 90 percent of the nation’s 30 million people use the internet, with Gen Z at the centre of this wave.
This crackdown came just as a hashtag, #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal, was going viral. Online posts exposed the luxurious lifestyles of political leaders’ children, clashing with the country’s low average yearly income of $1,300.
TikTok users highlighted these differences, contrasting the hardship of ordinary people with the privilege and wealth of the political class. As a result, public anger about both inequality and corruption soared. Groups such as the Committee to Protect Journalists criticized the block, warning it set a “dangerous precedent for press freedom” and silenced calls for reform.
When Protests Turned Violent
On 8 September, crowds of school-age and university students gathered in Kathmandu and cities like Pokhara, Butwal, and Itahari. They demanded an end to the social media ban and action on corrupt practices in government.
Organizations like Hami Nepal helped organize the protests, which quickly became larger and more intense. Demonstrators soon tried to push into the federal parliament buildings in Kathmandu. Police responded with water cannons, rubber bullets, batons and, according to witnesses, even live rounds. Reports from local hospitals said at least 19 were killed and hundreds were injured, many with serious gunshot wounds.
The violence only made the protestors more determined. On 9 September, they broke curfews, setting fire to the parliament building, the government complex at Singha Durbar, and several top politicians’ homes, including those of Oli, President Ram Chandra Paudel, and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport closed for security reasons as the army came out to restore order. Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel said that protestors were “looting and damaging public property.” Still, young people continued to march, chanting slogans like “Shut down corruption, not social media” and “Youths against corruption.”
Why Young People Lost Faith in Their Leaders
The protests show how much frustration has built up among Nepal’s youth. Many view politicians as out of touch, corrupt, and concerned only with their own interests.
Several governments have come and gone since Nepal abolished the monarchy in 2008, but not one has finished a full five-year term. Oli, during his fourth spell as prime minister starting July 2024, faced constant criticism over his handling of poverty, joblessness, and the public sector’s rampant misuse of funds.
The lack of opportunity at home has forced many young Nepalese to look for work or study abroad, leaving them disillusioned with the system.
The crackdown on social media was the breaking point for many. “Corruption has spread to all corners of Nepal,” said Raksha Bam, a protester aged 26. “Instead of fixing that, the government tried to close off our space to speak out. That’s why Gen Z came together in protest.” Many saw echoes of recent uprisings in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, where young people brought down entrenched governments over similar problems.
Several scandals fuelled the anger, such as a 2017 Airbus deal involving Nepal Airlines, with protestors claiming this was yet another example of government waste. The viral “nepo kid” campaign highlighted how children connected to politicians enjoy privileges while ordinary families struggle.
“The job prospects are almost non-existent for today’s youth,” noted Anurag Acharya from Policy Entrepreneurs Inc. in Kathmandu. He said the frustration with endless government changes and widespread corruption had reached a breaking point.
Leadership Crisis Hits in Kathmandu
Unrest across the country led to quick changes in leadership. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak stepped down on 8 September, saying he was morally responsible for protester deaths. Prime Minister Oli, under pressure from political rivals and coalition partners, resigned on 9 September.
In his resignation, he wrote that leaving office might help bring a solution. Ministers for agriculture, water, and health also left their posts. President Paudel invited protest leaders to talks.
Even after the government lifted the social media ban late on 8 September, protests didn’t stop. People kept demanding real change and answers over those killed in the unrest. The army and top security officials called for calm, pushing for talks to end the crisis.
Yet, with parliament damaged by fire and no clear successor for Oli, Nepal’s future remains uncertain. Many analysts say that if leaders ignore young people’s demands, the protests will likely get worse.
The global response has been one of concern. The United Nations called for a full, transparent investigation into the use of force. Amnesty International condemned the security crackdown as “reprehensible.”
The US State Department warned its citizens to stay home, while India put out a travel alert. Russia’s embassy in Kathmandu said it was monitoring the situation and did not plan any immediate evacuations.
On the streets, many protesters still feel a sense of victory. “Gen Z has made its point,” said 20-year-old Rohan Ansari, standing by the burned parliament. “From here on, young people will be in charge. We will expose the files on their corruption.”
As Nepal faces this extraordinary period, the drive for honesty, fair government, and better futures for young people will play a big role in what comes next. Whether the country’s leaders can meet those expectations, or if more upheaval is on the horizon, remains to be seen.
