Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday after days of violent protests triggered by a government ban on social media platforms and deep frustration with corruption. His departure followed a wave of unrest in which demonstrators set fire to government buildings, politicians’ homes, and party offices, while police gunfire left at least 22 people dead.
The demonstrations began Monday in Kathmandu’s Maitighar neighborhood as a youth-led protest against the temporary shutdown of platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and X. The ban, imposed after companies refused to register with Nepali authorities, was reversed Tuesday, but the protests quickly evolved into broader calls for accountability and reform.
Thousands of mostly young demonstrators poured into the streets, chanting against corruption and nepotism. Videos posted online showed high school students in uniform, college students, and activists clashing with security forces. Crowds surrounded Parliament, broke through police barricades, and torched the prime minister’s office as well as residences of senior leaders, including former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and President Ram Chandra Poudel.
Police responded with tear gas, water cannons, and eventually live rounds. Hospitals reported treating dozens of gunshot victims, with doctors at the National Trauma Center in Kathmandu saying many of the wounded had been shot in the head and chest. Families waited outside emergency rooms for word of their loved ones, while blood donation lines stretched down the street.
“We are here because our friends are being killed,” said student Narayan Acharya, who protested outside Parliament. “We want justice and we want this government gone.”
Public anger has been fueled not only by the deaths but also by perceptions of widespread corruption and inequality. Many young Nepalis say they feel shut out of opportunity in a country where youth unemployment remains high and remittances from abroad make up a third of the economy. Social media had amplified frustration with so-called “nepo kids,” a term used to describe the children of political elites who flaunt luxury lifestyles despite their families’ modest official salaries.
“The country has become so bad that youths like us see no future here,” said Bishnu Thapa Chetri, a student who joined the demonstrations. “Our demand is for peace and an end to corruption so people can work and live in Nepal.”
The intensity of the protests and the death toll forced a wave of resignations. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak stepped down late Monday, followed by Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari on Tuesday. Facing mounting pressure, Oli announced he would resign, though he will remain as caretaker leader until a new government is formed.
President Poudel appealed for calm, urging protesters to engage in dialogue, while the army said it was prepared to maintain law and order if police failed to restore control. Helicopters were seen airlifting officials from government compounds after several ministries were attacked.
Nepal’s attempt to regulate social media had been part of a broader bill requiring companies to establish local offices and comply with oversight rules. Rights groups criticized the measure as censorship, arguing it was designed to silence critics rather than promote accountability.
Despite the lifting of the ban and Oli’s resignation, protests continued across Kathmandu and other cities Tuesday night. Demonstrators set tires ablaze, blocked roads, and attacked party offices, vowing not to leave until structural changes are made. The resignation has brought a temporary shift in leadership, but the anger driving Nepal’s streets shows no sign of abating.
Green = Nepal
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