ISLAMABAD: Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday after unprecedented youth-led protests turned violent, leaving at least 19 people dead and more than 400 injured across the country. His resignation came as pressure mounted from opposition parties, civil society, and his own cabinet, several members of which quit in protest over the state’s violent crackdown.
Oli, in a letter posted by a top aide on social media, cited “the extraordinary situation” gripping the country as the reason for his decision.
What Sparked the Protests?
The unrest began last week when the government abruptly banned more than two dozen social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X. Officials said the restrictions were meant to curb fake news and hate speech, but rights groups and ordinary citizens saw the move as censorship.
Frustrations quickly boiled over, fueled by long-standing anger at corruption, poor governance, and a lack of economic opportunities. Youth unemployment stood at 20.8% in 2024, according to World Bank data.
The protests have been led primarily by Nepal’s Generation Z, young people between the ages of 13 and 28, who accuse politicians of failing them. A viral online campaign against “Nepo Kids” — children of politicians flaunting wealth on social media — further stoked anger about inequality.
Deadly Crackdown in the Capital
The situation escalated dramatically on Monday when thousands of students and young people clashed with police outside Nepal’s parliament complex in Kathmandu. Witnesses reported riot police firing tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition.
Protesters set fire to an ambulance, torched police vehicles, and attacked a booth near the headquarters of the Nepali Congress party. Kathmandu’s international airport was temporarily shut as violence gripped the capital.
Hospital officials confirmed at least 17 deaths in Kathmandu and two more in the eastern city of Itahari. The health ministry said over 400 people were hospitalized, including dozens of police officers.
International human rights groups, including Amnesty International, condemned the security forces’ response, warning that the “use of lethal force against protesters not posing an imminent threat of death or serious injury is a grave violation of international law.”
A Nation with a History of Political Upheaval
Nepal, a Himalayan country of 30 million people, has a long history of turbulent politics. The country abolished its 239-year-old monarchy in 2008 after a decade-long civil war that killed more than 17,000 people. Since then, it has cycled through more than a dozen governments, many of which collapsed under political infighting and allegations of corruption.
The latest unrest is being described as the most significant political crisis since the era of the civil war, with many calling it a generational revolt.
Political Fallout and Calls for Accountability
The government’s response to the protests triggered a wave of resignations. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak stepped down on Monday, followed by the ministers of agriculture, water, and health. The government has since lifted the social media ban.
In his final statement before resigning, Oli said he was “deeply saddened” by the deaths but blamed “infiltration by various vested interest groups” for the violence — without providing evidence.
Gagan Thapa, General Secretary of the Nepali Congress, demanded full accountability: “The cruel sight of innocent youth being killed unnecessarily is rolling before our eyes. Oli must take responsibility.”
Nepal’s largest daily newspaper echoed the sentiment, calling on Oli to leave office immediately, arguing that he “cannot sit in the PM’s chair for a minute longer.”
What Comes Next?
As Oli’s resignation leaves Nepal in political limbo, questions remain over who will lead the country through its worst unrest in decades. Protesters continue to defy curfews in Kathmandu and other cities, signaling that the anger goes far beyond a single leader.
With international organizations demanding investigations into police violence and youth leaders vowing to continue demonstrations, Nepal faces a precarious road ahead — one that could reshape the nation’s political order.
