Protests in Nepal turned violent [7] Sept. 8, resulting in at least 19 deaths [8] and over 400 injuries. Security forces opened fire as young activists took to the streets to voice their frustrations over government corruption and a recently imposed social media ban. This only enflamed the situation, and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned [9] from his post the next day. His resignation marks the end of a political career with the the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) that saw him hold office from 2015-2016, 2018–2021, and again from July 2024 until his exit this week.
The severe crackdown also prompted the resignation [11] of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. Protesters set fire [12] to the homes of both Sharma Oli and Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung in Lalitpur, apparently causing the death of Oli's wife. They also threw stones at the residence of Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, and set fire to the Parliament building.
Demonstrations were triggered by the government's decision to restrict access to unregistered social media platforms, a move that was met with widespread disapproval. Young people, using hashtags like #NepoKid and #NepoBabies, organized rallies to express their discontent. Protests began [13] in Kathmandu, where thousands marched on the federal Parliament, voicing anti-corruption chants and holding signs mocking political leaders.
Many protesters were students in uniforms and young professionals carrying placards in Nepali, reading "Gen Z mocks the corrupt." Demonstrations quickly spread to other cities, including Pokhara, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Bharatpur, Itahari and Damak.
Authorities responded [8] with water cannons, tear-gas, rubber bullets and, in several cases, live ammunition. Hospitals reported that most of the deaths were caused by gunshot wounds to the head and chest. At least 347 people remain hospitalized, overwhelming trauma centers in the capital and eastern Nepal. In response, the Kathmandu District Administration imposed curfews [14] in several areas.
Political fallout came swiftly. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak [15] resigned on "moral responsibility [16]" grounds after his party, the Nepali Congress, criticized the excessive use of force by the police. Before stepping down himself, Prime Minister Oli announced [17] an investigation into the violence.
The government also repealed social media bans that prompted the protests. A government minister reportedly [18] said that the move came after an emergency meeting [19] late on the night Sept. 8 held to "address the demands of Gen Z."
International human rights organizations condemned the violence. UN Resident Coordinator [20] in Nepal, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, described [21] the events as “unlike Nepal” and expressed deep concern for civilian safety, stressing the urgent need to ensure unrestricted medical access for the injured. Amnesty International accused [22] Nepalese authorities of using unlawful lethal force and urged accountability through an independent probe. Nepal's National Human Rights Commission stressed [23] that both protesters and security forces must show restraint while reaffirming the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
The protests are the latest sign of discontent among Nepal's young generation, who have grown increasingly frustrated with corruption, poor governance, and shrinking opportunities at home. The government’s decision to block [24]26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp and X, was seen by many as an attack on freedom of expression and a direct trigger for the demonstrations.
From JURIST [25], Sept. 9. Used with permission.
Note: Spikes in the price of food and fuel since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022 have contributed to popular privation and unrest [26] worldwide.
