By Chdimma Okwara,
KATHMANDU, NEPAL – A wave of violent protests, largely led by Nepal’s “Generation Z,” has plunged the country into a deep political crisis.
The demonstrations, which began over a government ban on social media, have escalated into a broader movement against corruption and political dysfunction, resulting in at least 19 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Videos circulating on social media show the Federal Parliament building in Kathmandu ablaze, symbolizing the public’s rage against the political establishment.
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Nepal’s protests against the government turned violent across the Himalayan nation on Tuesday with officials confirming that at least 19 people have been killed and hundreds more wounded, Reuters reported.
Demonstrators, mainly young people from Generation Z, torched parliament and the homes of government officials, stormed prisons and forced the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in the nation’s capital of Kathmandu.
The Spark and the Fuel
The protests, which have been dubbed the “Gen Z protests,” were initially triggered by a government decision to ban access to popular social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube. The government cited the platforms’ failure to register with the authorities and claimed the ban was necessary to curb fake news and cybercrimes. However, the move was widely seen as an attempt to stifle dissent and control online narratives.
This ban served as the flashpoint for a long-simmering discontent among the youth. Many young Nepalis are frustrated with the country’s entrenched political corruption, nepotism, and lack of economic opportunity.
An online trend highlighting the lavish lifestyles of “nepo kids”—children of powerful politicians—contrasted with the struggles of the average citizen, further fueling public anger. The protests quickly morphed from a demand to restore social media access into a call for a complete overhaul of the government.
Escalation and Violence
On Monday, September 8, 2025, tens of thousands of protesters, many of them students, marched toward the Parliament building in Kathmandu. Security forces responded with force, using tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and, in some cases, live ammunition. The confrontation turned deadly, with at least 19 people confirmed killed and over 300 injured, according to Human Rights Watch.
Despite a government-imposed curfew and the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, the protests have intensified. On Tuesday, demonstrators defied the curfew, setting fire to the Parliament building, the Supreme Court, and the residences of several senior political figures, including the Prime Minister. Videos of the attacks on government property and reports of protesters physically assaulting public officials, including the Finance Minister, have highlighted the extent of the public’s fury.
In a bid to de-escalate the situation, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned from his post, and the government lifted the social media ban. However, these measures have failed to appease the protesters, whose demands have grown to include the dissolution of parliament, the suspension of officials responsible for the deadly crackdown, and the formation of an interim government. With a death toll that continues to rise and a political vacuum at the top, Nepal is facing one of its most severe crises in recent history.
