Nepal Political Unrest: Gen Z-Led Protests Set Parliament on Fire, PM Resigns

Nepal, the Himalayan nation often pictured for its serene mountains and peaceful temples, has been anything but calm this week. In scenes more reminiscent of a revolution than a protest, youth-led demonstrations erupted across Kathmandu, defying police curfews, torching government buildings, and ultimately toppling the country’s prime minister.

The unrest, driven by frustration over decades of corruption, poor governance, and lack of opportunities, has quickly spiraled into Nepal’s most serious political crisis in decades.

On Tuesday, protesters, most of them between ages 13 and 28, defied a heavy police curfew and stormed the streets of Kathmandu. The Supreme Court, parliament, and several government buildings were set ablaze, sending plumes of smoke over the capital. Even the offices of The Kathmandu Post, one of Nepal’s most respected newspapers, were not spared as fire gutted its headquarters.

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The violence escalated after security forces responded with live ammunition, water cannons, and tear gas. According to officials, at least 22 people have been killed and over 400 injured, including members of the security forces. With chaos gripping the capital, Nepal’s main international airport was temporarily shut down. Later in the evening, the army was deployed to “restore order,” underscoring just how grave the situation had become.

The protests didn’t begin with flames and fury. Instead, they started with a government move that many saw as a direct attack on freedom of expression: the ban of major social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X.

For Nepal’s Gen Z, who live and breathe online, this was the last straw. But analysts and protesters alike say the social media ban was just the spark. The fuel had been building for years in the form of corruption, nepotism, and limited opportunities for the young. As one 28-year-old protester told CNN:
“While the main trigger was the social media ban, the long history of corruption and bad governance is the real reason thousands of us are on the streets.”

Adding fuel to the fire is a viral online campaign against “Nepo Kids”, the children of Nepal’s political elite who flaunt their wealth and glamorous lifestyles on Instagram while ordinary citizens struggle. The disparity has become symbolic of the broader gap between those in power and the millions of struggling Nepalis. With youth unemployment at 20.8% in 2024 (World Bank data) and a third of the country’s GDP reliant on remittances from Nepalis working abroad, the resentment has been festering for years. When politicians’ children post designer bags and luxury vacations while many young people can’t find jobs at home, it’s not just tone-deaf, it’s incendiary.

Oli Steps Down: “Extraordinary Situation”

Amid mounting chaos, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli announced his resignation on Tuesday. In a letter posted online by a top aide, he cited the “extraordinary situation” gripping the country. Within hours, video surfaced of demonstrators ransacking his private residence, smashing furniture before setting parts of the house ablaze. It was a dramatic and humiliating end for a leader who, until recently, commanded significant power.

Oli’s resignation followed a wave of cabinet walkouts. The Home Minister quit on Monday, followed by the ministers of agriculture, water, and health a day later. The domino effect signaled that the government itself was crumbling under pressure.

Global Outcry and Calls for Calm

The violent crackdown has drawn international condemnation.

• UN Secretary General António Guterres urged restraint, warning that “the use of lethal force against protesters not posing an imminent threat” violates international law.
• Amnesty International echoed those concerns, blasting the government’s heavy-handed tactics.
• The U.S. State Department advised American citizens in Nepal to shelter in place until further notice.

Even Nepal’s own army issued a rare appeal for dialogue, calling on citizens to exercise restraint “to prevent further loss of life and property.” With Oli gone, Nepal’s political future is uncertain. President Ramchandra Paudel has called for dialogue and urged young protesters to come to the table. But with no party holding a clear majority in parliament, an interim government is the most likely outcome.

Public policy analyst Binay Mishra suggested that Gen Z organizations could even have a say in shaping that temporary government, a possibility unthinkable just months ago. For now, the protesters aren’t backing down. As one demonstrator said after surviving a day of clashes:
“It was overwhelming to see such a huge turnout, the energy, and the anger. We are not stopping until real change comes.”

A Historic Turning Point

Nepal has seen its fair share of turbulence — from the end of a centuries-old monarchy in 2008 to multiple governments rising and falling in rapid succession. But what’s happening today feels different. This is not just another political squabble between elites. This is a generational revolt. A youth-led movement that is demanding honesty, opportunity, and dignity in a system that has denied them all three.

The coming weeks will determine whether Nepal’s leaders can channel this anger into meaningful reform — or whether the flames in Kathmandu are just the beginning of an even deeper national crisis.

One thing is clear: Nepal’s Gen Z has found its voice. And the world is finally listening.