In a dramatic turn of events that has left Nepal reeling, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday, September 10, 2025, after the country was rocked by deadly protests and a deepening political crisis. The unrest, largely driven by the country’s youth—dubbed the “Gen Z protests”—erupted after the government’s controversial ban on major social media platforms, but quickly ballooned into a full-blown revolt against what demonstrators called rampant corruption and government mismanagement.
The streets of Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, became a battleground as tens of thousands of young people defied curfew orders, blocked roads, and stormed government buildings, including Parliament, the President’s office, the Supreme Court, and party headquarters. According to The Independent, the violence reached a fever pitch when protesters set fire to the private residences of President Ram Chandra Poudel, Prime Minister Oli, and several former prime ministers. Among the tragic casualties was Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, wife of former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, who died from severe burns after their home in Kathmandu’s Dallu area was torched by an angry mob.
The chaos was not confined to the capital. Reports surfaced of similar unrest in other regions, with demonstrators attacking leaders’ homes and even freeing Rabi Lamichhane, a former Deputy Prime Minister jailed for alleged corruption, from the central jail in Nakkhu. The violence left at least 20 dead and more than 100 injured, according to multiple sources including Reuters and BBC. Dr. Badri Risa of Kathmandu’s national trauma centre told The Independent, “Many of them are in serious condition and appear to have been shot in the head and chest.”
The immediate spark for the protests was the government’s decision on September 4 to ban over two dozen social media platforms—including Facebook, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube—after they failed to register with Nepal’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. The official rationale was to crack down on fake IDs, misinformation, and hate speech, but critics, including Nepal’s main opposition party, condemned the move as a thinly veiled attempt to stifle dissent.
“Unemployment here in Nepal is sky high and you can see all the youths leave the country in high numbers,” Sudeep Bista, a pilot from Nepal, told The Independent. “This outburst was an accumulation of frustration and anger over a decade now due to mismanagement and massive corruption.” Demonstrators chanted slogans like “Stop the ban on social media” and “Stop corruption, not social media,” as they waved national flags and confronted police in riot gear.
As the protests escalated, the government’s response grew more desperate. Police opened fire on crowds surrounding Parliament, with eyewitnesses reporting that young demonstrators were shot at close range. Families anxiously gathered at hospitals for news of missing loved ones, while volunteers lined up to donate blood for the wounded.
On September 8, as the situation spiraled, Prime Minister Oli withdrew the social media ban and called an all-party meeting, saying, “We have to resort to peaceful dialogue to find solutions to any problem.” However, his appeal for calm fell on deaf ears. The violence continued unabated, with protesters storming the parliament complex, setting fire to politicians’ homes, and even targeting a private school owned by Arzu Deuba Rana, the country’s foreign minister and wife of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
By September 10, the crisis had reached a breaking point. Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu was forced to close as thick smoke from nearby fires drifted across the runway, endangering flights. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal announced the closure, citing safety concerns. Later that night, the Nepal Army took control of the airport and the government’s main secretariat building, announcing it would take charge of security operations from 10 pm onwards. In a statement, the Army warned, “Some groups are taking undue advantage of the difficult situation and causing severe damage to ordinary citizens and public property.”
Amid the chaos, both President Poudel and Prime Minister Oli went into hiding, deepening the sense of uncertainty. An aide to the President told Reuters that Poudel had begun the process of finding a new premier and had called protest leaders for talks. Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel issued a video message urging protesters to stop the demonstrations, prevent further loss of life and property, and engage in dialogue. “Nepal Army is always committed to protect the interests and security of Nepalese people,” the Army said in a joint appeal with other senior officials, calling for calm, social harmony, and national unity.
Protest organizers, under the banner ‘Next Gen Nepal,’ appealed for restraint and discipline. They stated their readiness for dialogue, but made dissolution of Parliament a precondition. “Our participation and emotional solidarity is important for this movement, but at the same time, restraint and discipline are very important too. Loss of properties is the loss of our own property, therefore, be calm and disciplined,” read a widely shared social media post. Tanuja Pandey, a prominent face of the movement, declared, “Our generation is now ready to take on the responsibility for the future, and for that, your patience and restraint will empower us. We are ready for dialogue, but dissolution of Parliament is a pre-condition.”
In his resignation letter, Oli wrote, “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.” The President accepted his resignation and appointed him to lead a caretaker government until a new one is in place. But with both leaders in hiding and the country’s political future uncertain, the crisis is far from over.
Oli’s resignation marks the end of his fourth term as Prime Minister since 2008, a tenure marred by frequent political turmoil. The government has promised relief payments for families of the dead and free treatment for the injured, and announced the formation of an investigation panel to assess the causes and losses, and to recommend measures within 15 days to prevent a recurrence.
Former King Gyanendra Shah, who has remained largely out of politics since the monarchy was abolished in 2008, issued a statement expressing condolences for the dead and urging all sides to seek a peaceful solution. Meanwhile, the main opposition party continued to criticize the government’s heavy-handed approach and the initial social media ban.
As Nepal stands at a crossroads, the Gen Z movement has forced the country’s leaders to reckon with a new generation’s demand for accountability, transparency, and a voice in their own future. The coming days will test whether dialogue and reform can restore stability—or whether deeper unrest still lies ahead.
