Nepal’s Prime Minister, Khadga Prasad Oli, resigned on Tuesday following days of violent protests triggered by his government’s short-lived ban on social media platforms.
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The demonstrations, spearheaded by young people angered over the blocking of Facebook, X and YouTube, quickly escalated into broader unrest fueled by grievances about corruption, inequality, and frustration with the country’s political elite.
Police opened fire on protesters in Kathmandu on Monday, killing 19 people and leaving dozens injured. The government lifted the ban on Tuesday, but rallies continued as demonstrators torched the parliament building, the homes of senior political leaders, and even Oli’s private residence. His family was safely relocated to the official residence before the attack.
Airports in the capital were shut down while army helicopters evacuated key government officials to secure locations. A curfew was declared across Kathmandu, and schools were ordered closed, but protesters defied restrictions, chanting “Punish the murderers in government” and “Stop corruption, not social media.”
“We are here because our friends are getting killed. Justice must be done and the regime must fall,” said protester Narayan Acharya outside the parliament.
Most of the victims, according to doctors at the National Trauma Center, suffered gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Families of those killed and wounded gathered at hospitals, while long queues formed for blood donations.
Before announcing his resignation, Oli promised to establish an investigative committee within 15 days and to provide compensation to families of the dead, as well as free treatment for the injured.
The protests — dubbed the “Protest of Gen Z” — have been further fueled by anger at so-called “Nepo Kids,” the privileged children of Nepal’s political elite who live in luxury while ordinary youths face an unemployment rate of 20 percent. The government estimates that more than 2,000 young people leave the country daily in search of work abroad.
The controversy erupted amid the government’s push for a bill requiring social media companies to register locally and appoint liaison offices in Nepal. Rights groups condemned the legislation as a tool for censorship and suppression of dissent.
TikTok, Viber and a few other platforms had already registered and continued to operate. But global giants including Google (YouTube), Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), and Elon Musk’s X had not complied. None of the companies responded to requests for comment.
Nepal had previously banned TikTok in 2023, accusing it of undermining “social harmony.” That ban was later lifted when the company agreed to comply with local regulations.
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