For two days in early September 2025, the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, were transformed into a battleground. Government buildings—including Parliament, the Supreme Court, and even the president’s official residence—were set ablaze by furious protesters, and for a brief, harrowing period, it looked as if no one was in control. The violence, which erupted after the government attempted a short-lived ban on social media, quickly escalated, fueled by widespread frustration over corruption and unemployment. By the time the smoke began to clear, at least 51 people had lost their lives, and more than 1,300 were injured, according to police figures reported by AFP and other outlets.
The government’s response was swift but ultimately futile. On September 10, 2025, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned, along with four of his ministers, as protesters stormed and torched government buildings. The police, overwhelmed and unable to restore order, cracked down with live ammunition, tear gas, and batons, but the chaos only deepened. In an extraordinary move, Nepal’s military chief, Gen. Ashok Raj Sigdel, appeared in a prerecorded video that evening, appealing for calm. Within hours, the Nepalese army was patrolling the streets, engaging in dialogue with the young demonstrators—many of them from Gen Z—who had brought the government to its knees.
The military’s intervention marked a pivotal moment. As reported by the Associated Press, the army’s presence brought a rapid halt to the spiraling violence. "It was a very abnormal situation in Nepal which the army was successful in bringing back to control to further prevent loss of lives and property. They were able to take control in an emergency situation and turn the abnormal situation to normal," said Geja Sharma Wagle, a Kathmandu-based security and strategic affairs analyst. The army’s reputation in Nepal has long been positive, in stark contrast to the suspicion or fear that often accompanies military intervention in other countries. Renowned for its roles in disaster relief and United Nations peacekeeping, Nepal’s military is rarely called upon to police its own citizens—yet when it does, the public response is often one of relief.
But the events of September were unprecedented. Not only did the army quell the violence and restore a fragile order, it also found itself thrust into the center of Nepal’s political crisis. As the curfew took effect and soldiers took charge of the streets, talks began between the president, army officials, and representatives of the protest movement to name a transitional leader. The nation’s constitution, adopted in 2015, has no explicit provision for such an interim arrangement, leaving the country in uncharted waters. The situation bore striking resemblance to the upheaval in Bangladesh just a year prior, when student-led protests ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a Nobel laureate was appointed to lead an interim government.
Meanwhile, the scale of the unrest was still coming into focus. Police spokesman Binod Ghimire told AFP that "51 people have died so far this week in the protests, including at least 21 protestors and three policemen." The violence had also triggered a mass jailbreak: more than 13,500 prisoners escaped from jails across the country during the chaos, and as of September 12, over 12,500 remained at large. Some fugitives attempted to cross into neighboring India, where many were apprehended by Indian border forces. The army reported recovering more than 100 guns looted during the uprising, and the security situation remained tense.
Yet amid the devastation, a remarkable transformation was underway. By September 12, as the curfew was briefly relaxed to allow residents to buy essential supplies, young protesters—many of whom had been at the heart of the demonstrations—took to the streets with brooms, dustbins, and paintbrushes. According to reporting by The Guardian, these Gen Z activists began sweeping pavements, repainting walls, and even returning items looted during the chaos. Videos circulating on social media showed them repairing broken tiles and cleaning up debris outside government buildings. Organizers said their efforts were meant to demonstrate civic responsibility and signal that their movement was about rebuilding, not just tearing down.
Negotiations for a transitional government continued behind closed doors. Among the names floated as potential interim leaders, former chief justice Sushila Karki emerged as a popular choice, especially among the youth-led protest movement. On September 12, 2025, Karki was officially sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister, tasked with leading a six-month transitional government that will steer the country toward new elections. Her appointment was widely viewed as a compromise, reflecting the demands of protesters for clean governance and the need for stability after a week of turmoil.
For many Nepalis, the military’s role in restoring order was cause for gratitude. "When the police failed to control chaos in the country, the army stepped in right on time and saved the country from plunging into a state of lawlessness," said Ramesh Shrestha, a car mechanic, in comments reported by AP. Others, still reeling from police violence, saw the military as a force for peace. "Nepal’s army is known for its peacekeeping roles internationally and it has brought peace inside the country too," said Kabita Yadav, a student.
But not everyone was ready to move on. The families of those killed in the protests gathered outside a hospital morgue in Kathmandu on September 11, holding a candlelight vigil and demanding state honors and justice for their loved ones. "We need to fight for justice for our family who were killed, and we cannot stay silent any longer," said Kamal Subedi, whose nephew was among the dead. "We have lost our loved ones but politics seem to take priority right. No one has even approached us, so now we are going to fight for justice for the honor they deserve." Others, like Bhol Bahadur Bishwokarma, were still searching for the bodies of missing relatives. "We have heard that the body is in the hospital morgue here but no one has confirmed that or in what condition and shape the body is in. We have not even been able to see the body. We demand the government address our concern at the earliest," he said.
As Nepal embarks on this uncertain transition, the lessons of the past week loom large. The military’s swift intervention may have averted further bloodshed, but the deeper grievances that fueled the protests—corruption, unemployment, and a lack of trust in government—remain unresolved. The coming months will test whether the new interim government, led by Sushila Karki, can channel the energy of Nepal’s youth into lasting reform and guide the country toward a more stable future.