September 10, 2025, Kathmandu, Nepal
In a stunning turn of events that has plunged the Himalayan nation into a political crisis, Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned from his post. The resignation comes after two days of violent and widespread protests, largely led by the country’s youth, which have left at least 30 people dead and several hundred injured. The movement, fueled by deep-seated anger over government corruption, nepotism, and a controversial ban on social media, has quickly escalated from peaceful demonstrations to a national uprising that has seen government buildings and political leaders’ homes set on fire.
The “Gen Z protests,” as they have been dubbed, began after the government’s unexpected decision to block access to a multitude of social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. While the ban was the immediate catalyst, the underlying grievances run much deeper. Frustrated by high unemployment, economic inequality, and what they see as a culture of impunity among political elites, young Nepalis took to the streets to demand accountability. The death toll from clashes with security forces on Monday further intensified public outrage, leading to a new wave of demonstrations that defied a government-imposed curfew.
The political fallout has been swift and dramatic. In addition to the Prime Minister’s resignation, the Home Minister and other cabinet members have also stepped down, citing moral responsibility for the bloodshed. Protesters have stormed and set fire to the federal parliament building and the private residences of several senior politicians, signaling a complete breakdown of public trust in the country’s political establishment.
The Nepali Army has now been deployed across the capital, Kathmandu, to take charge of security and restore a semblance of order. With the country’s leadership in a state of flux, the focus now shifts to forming an interim government and navigating the political vacuum. The resignation of Prime Minister Oli, while a key demand of the protest movement, has not fully quelled the unrest, as demonstrators continue to demand systemic change and an end to the pervasive corruption that they say has plagued Nepal for decades. The path forward for the country remains uncertain, as it grapples with a crisis that has been simmering for years before finally boiling over.
