Kathmandu has descended into turmoil following two days of intense youth-led demonstrations marked by violent clashes and bloodshed. On Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli announced his resignation, prompting the army to step in and take control of national security.
President Ramchandra Paudel has urged the young protesters to come to the negotiation table in search of a peaceful resolution. In a statement Tuesday night, he emphasized that in a democracy, “citizens’ demands must be addressed through dialogue and participation, including voices from Generation Z.”
Nepal’s political scene is now uncertain, as no party holds a clear majority in parliament. Analysts believe lawmakers may move towards forming an interim government.
Earlier, Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel also appealed to protesters to show restraint, warning that the unrest has already caused heavy casualties and damage to property. He reaffirmed the army’s commitment to safeguarding national unity and territorial integrity.
Following Oli’s resignation, rumors of President Paudel stepping down circulated widely, but the army dismissed these reports as false.
The crisis stems not only from the government’s controversial decision to block 26 social media and messaging platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn—but also from deep frustrations over unemployment, corruption, and growing inequality. Although some apps like TikTok and Viber complied with registration rules, most major platforms were inaccessible, sparking outrage among the youth.
In recent weeks, hashtags like #NepoKids and #NepoBabies had already ignited anger against the privileged lifestyles of politicians’ and elites’ children, further fueling resentment.
That anger erupted on Monday, when thousands of young protesters took to the streets in Kathmandu and seven other cities. Security forces cracked down, leaving 19 dead and hundreds injured. Despite the government lifting the social media ban the next day, protesters continued to defy curfews, attacking government offices, ministers’ homes, and party offices.
By Tuesday evening, the death toll from two days of unrest had risen to at least 22, with more than 400 injured, according to Kathmandu’s Civil Service Hospital director Mohan Regmi.
President Paudel has now accepted Oli’s resignation and urged parliament to quickly form a new government. Analysts suggest that representatives of Nepal’s Gen-Z movement could have a role in shaping the country’s interim leadership.
