What We Know: Nepal Plunged into Crisis as Gen Z Protests Escalate; PM Oli Resigns Amid Unrest
Nepal has descended into political and civil turmoil as violent protests led by Gen Z demonstrators erupted nationwide, culminating in the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.
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| Nepal erupts in protest and fire. Photo Courtesy: ChandanGoopta |
Protesters have a right to peacefully protest and express their frustration and outrage against corruption and the government’s restriction on the right to freedom of expression including the social media ban in Nepal.
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) September 8, 2025
Amnesty calls for the immediate de-escalation of the… pic.twitter.com/Zm1gMO4MPn
The protests, now in their second consecutive day, have claimed at least 19 lives and left over 250 injured, as demonstrators clashed with security forces in Kathmandu and other cities.
#Nepal: We are shocked by the killings and injury of protesters today and urge a prompt and transparent investigation.
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) September 8, 2025
We have received several deeply worrying allegations of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force by security forces during protests organized by youth… pic.twitter.com/KstvW4La92
The government’s response, involving water cannons, tear gas, live ammunition, and curfews across key urban areas, has done little to suppress the anger on the streets.
Nepal Police threw smoke gren@de at protestors.
— Tarun Gautam (@TARUNspeakss) September 9, 2025
One guy came, picked it up and threw it back at the Police😭
GenZ is built different. pic.twitter.com/9DYT22kNIe
The unrest was triggered by the government's decision to block access to 26 popular social media platforms--including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram--citing non-compliance with local registration laws.
Though the ban was lifted on Monday, the demonstrations intensified, revealing a deep well of dissatisfaction among Nepal’s youth.
Violence led to the death of at least two people, including a journalist, in Nepal, as riot police tried to break up a rally by thousands of protesters demanding the restoration of constitutional monarchy https://t.co/Rz1aXszw24 pic.twitter.com/1gnsgHIlfz
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 28, 2025
Protesters--mainly students and young professionals—accused the government of censorship, corruption, and economic mismanagement. Placards reading "Shut down corruption, not social media" and chants of "KP Chor, Desh Chhod" echoed across the capital.
Government buildings, including the Supreme Court, were torched. The private residences of ministers, including those of Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, were attacked and set on fire.
Protesters in Nepal have attacked and burnt down the houses of Nepal's President, Prime Minister and other Ministers.
— With Love Bihar (@WithLoveBihar) September 9, 2025
Kathmandu airport has stopped all operations.#NepalGenZProtest pic.twitter.com/MHfWdAzqfb
Amid the chaos, Prime Minister Oli called the situation “unpleasant” and blamed “generational misunderstandings” for the violence.
In a public address, he announced the formation of a committee to investigate the protests, pledging a report within 15 days.
But his efforts to contain the crisis failed to pacify public sentiment. Later in the day, the President’s office confirmed that Oli had submitted his resignation, citing Article 77 (1) of the Constitution.
The fallout has extended beyond Nepal’s borders. India’s Ministry of External Affairs released emergency contact numbers for Indian nationals in Nepal, while Air India and IndiGo cancelled or diverted multiple Kathmandu-bound flights.
Press Release: Advisory for Nepal⬇️
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 9, 2025
🔗 https://t.co/KWAzgnJaL1 pic.twitter.com/2pBOSYt6oP
Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu was fully shut down due to security concerns. The Sashastra Seema Bal heightened security along the India-Nepal border to monitor for potential spillover.
कार्यालय तोडफोडपछि सोह्रखुट्टे प्रहरी वृत्तबाट भागे बन्दी#NepalPress pic.twitter.com/1DuJtIue9w
— NepalPress (@NepalPressnp) September 9, 2025
The protests have also drawn attention to Nepal’s broader digital governance efforts. The initial blackout followed a Supreme Court order issued in 2024 requiring unregistered digital platforms to comply with domestic regulations.
While some platforms like TikTok and Viber registered, others did not, prompting the Ministry of Communications to enforce compliance--a move seen by many as excessive and repressive.
In recent months, governments across the globe--from the EU to Brazil and India--have sought to regulate Big Tech more closely.
However, Nepal’s abrupt and sweeping approach appears to have backfired, triggering an uprising by a generation that views digital access as essential to expression, livelihood, and identity.
THE FALL OF COMMUNISM IN NEPAL ?
— Rahul Jha (@JhaRahul_Bihar) September 9, 2025
Communist party head office in Kathmandu burnt ,
Nepal Parliament gutted & burnt in Kathmandu by thousands of youth protestors.
Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli ( KP Oli ) resigns amid deadly protests pic.twitter.com/AYNpukWZiw
Nepal's political establishment is now grappling with a rapidly evolving crisis. The collapse of Oli’s government comes amid mounting pressure to restore civil liberties and address deep-seated grievances about governance, inequality, and youth disillusionment.
This is a developing story.