Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned following days of violent protests triggered by a government ban on social media apps. The unrest, which left 19 dead and hundreds injured, escalated into a broader movement against political corruption and nepotism.
The protests began after the government banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X. Despite the ban being reversed on Monday night, anger among young people continued, leading to what has been called the 'Gen Z' protests. On Tuesday, thousands stormed the federal parliament building in Kathmandu and set it alight, while fires burned across the capital and riot police were pelted with stones.
Oli submitted his resignation to President Ram Chandra Paudel on Tuesday afternoon, a move met with cheers from protesters. The home minister had already resigned on Monday night over the killing of protesters. Despite Oli's resignation, chaos continued, and the army was deployed to maintain order from Tuesday night.
The protests were fuelled by widespread dissatisfaction with political instability, corruption, and slow economic development. High-profile corruption cases and images of luxury spending by politicians' children on social media had stoked resentment among ordinary Nepalis facing economic hardship.
Protesters called for accountability for the deadly use of force. Tanuja Pandey, 24, said: 'This is not just a death of 19 youths – it is murder. The government's hands are stained with blood.' The government has formed a committee to investigate the violence.
