KATHMANDU — Nepal’s Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, resigned on Tuesday after days of violent anti-corruption protests left at least 22 people dead and nearly 200 injured. His office said he was stepping down to “pave the way for a constitutional solution” to the crisis.
The unrest, driven largely by young people, erupted after the government banned 26 social media platforms, including WhatsApp and Instagram. The ban was quickly scrapped, but the anger had already spilled into the streets.
Thousands of demonstrators, many calling themselves Gen Z, marched through Kathmandu and other cities. They carried placards denouncing corruption and scaled the walls of Parliament. Police responded with tear gas, water cannons and, at times, live bullets.
A police barricade is pictured in front of a fire started by demonstrators outside parliament// Getty image
By Tuesday night, the protests had escalated. Demonstrators set fire to the Parliament building, the headquarters of the ruling Nepali Congress party and the home of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Several other politicians’ homes were also attacked.
“We want to see an end to corruption in Nepal,” said Binu KC, a 19-year-old student in Kathmandu. “Leaders promise one thing during elections but never deliver. They are the cause of so many problems.”
Doctors told BBC Nepali they had treated gunshot wounds and injuries from rubber bullets. Police said officers were also among the wounded, with casualty figures expected to rise.
Nepal’s army chief, Gen. Ashok Raj Sigdel, warned that security forces were ready to “take control of the situation” if violence continued. At the same time, he urged protesters to come to the table for dialogue. But it is unclear who speaks for the protesters. The movement, born on social media, has no formal leadership.
The one political figure to openly support the demonstrations is Kathmandu’s mayor, Balen Shah. On social media, he has appealed for restraint, even as he stood with protesters demanding change.
A new slogan has come to define the rallies: #NepoKids. Viral clips on TikTok and Instagram show the extravagant lifestyles of politicians’ children — designer clothes, luxury cars, foreign trips — set against the struggles of ordinary young Nepalis. The contrast has fuelled anger about inequality and corruption.
“This protest is about more than social media,” said Subhana Budhathoki, a content creator. “It’s about silencing our voices. And we won’t let that happen.”
For now, Nepal is leaderless. With Mr. Oli gone and ministers seeking shelter with security forces, no clear successor has emerged. An indefinite curfew is in place in Kathmandu, but protesters have defied it, determined to push for reforms.
Analysts warn that unless the government engages seriously with the demands for accountability, the unrest could deepen further.
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