Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned following widespread protests triggered by a government ban on social media apps, which escalated into a broader movement against corruption. The unrest, described as some of the worst in decades, left 19 dead and hundreds injured after police used deadly force against demonstrators.
The protests began after the government banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and X. Although the ban was lifted on Monday night, the anger among young people, dubbed the 'Gen Z' movement, continued. On Tuesday, thousands stormed the federal parliament building in Kathmandu and set it alight, defying curfews. Fires spread across the capital, and riot police were pelted with stones.
Oli's resignation came after his home was set on fire, along with homes of the president and other ministers. Protesters took control of the main administrative area, Singha Durbar. By Tuesday afternoon, Oli submitted his resignation letter to President Ram Chandra Paudel, a move met with cheers from demonstrators. The home minister had already resigned on Monday night over the killing of protesters.
Despite the resignation, chaos continued, and the army was deployed to maintain order. The army stated that some groups were taking undue advantage of the situation to cause damage. President Paudel invited Gen Z protest leaders for talks. Witnesses described seeing friends shot dead by police, with one protester saying, 'The Gen Z movement has succeeded. Now his soul will rest in peace.'
The protests were fueled by deep-seated dissatisfaction among the youth over political instability, corruption, and slow economic development. High-profile corruption cases and images of luxury spending by politicians' children have fueled resentment. Protesters called for criminal investigations into the use of deadly force, with one saying, 'This is not just a death of 19 youths – it is murder.' The government has formed a committee to investigate the violence.
