Nepal’s prime minister, Khadga Prasad Oli, resigned Tuesday as nationwide protests sparked by a short-lived ban on social media sharpened into wider anger over corruption and inequality and turned increasingly violent, leaving at least 19 people dead.
The president accepted Oli’s resignation and appointed him to lead a caretaker government until a new one is formed, though it was unclear what authority he would exercise. The resignation did little to stem unrest: tens of thousands of protesters remained in the streets of Kathmandu late into the day, blocking roads, storming government buildings and setting some on fire while security forces and the army struggled to control the capital.
The unrest began after the government blocked platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube, saying the companies had not complied with a new registration requirement. Authorities lifted the block on Tuesday, but the demonstrations — dubbed the "Gen Z" protests — rapidly broadened to include demands for accountability from a political elite widely accused of corruption and nepotism.
Protesters set fire to the offices that house the prime minister and several ministries, and smoke was seen rising from the Singha Durbar complex. The presidential palace, Oli’s official residence and residences of several senior politicians, including the president, home minister and members of opposition parties, were also reported to have been attacked or torched. Videos circulating on social media showed the leader of the Nepali Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and his wife, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, injured and being helped to safety.
Security forces opened fire on Monday as demonstrations swelled to tens of thousands around the Parliament building. Authorities said 19 people died and scores were wounded. Seven of the dead and many of the wounded were taken to the National Trauma Center, where doctors reported that several appeared to have been shot in the head and chest. Families gathered at hospitals and volunteers lined up to donate blood.
Before stepping down, Oli said he would form an investigating committee to report on the shootings within 15 days, promised compensation for victims’ families and pledged free medical care for the wounded. The army issued a separate statement urging calm and dialogue but gave few operational details. Army helicopters were used to move some ministers to safer locations amid attacks on political offices and private homes.
"We are here to protest about the massive corruption in our country," said Bishnu Thapa Chetri, a student who joined demonstrators in Kathmandu. Other protesters criticized what they call the privilege of "Nepo Kids," the children of political leaders who appear to enjoy conspicuous wealth while many young Nepalis struggle to find work. Data cited by rights groups and international organizations show youth unemployment and large numbers of migrants leaving the country daily in search of jobs.
The immediate trigger for the protests was a government push to regulate social media through a bill that would require platforms to appoint local liaison offices or contact points and comply with oversight demands. Supporters of the measure say it is needed to curb harmful content and misinformation; critics and rights groups call it a tool for censorship that would punish dissent and erode freedom of expression.
Several platforms had not registered under the requirement, prompting the temporary blocking order. Some services — including TikTok, Viber and a few others — had already registered and continued to operate. Parent companies of major platforms did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Local and international observers said the unrest reflected deeper frustrations in Nepal, a nation wedged geopolitically between China and India and long plagued by political instability. Young people have frequently cited lack of employment and economic opportunities as causes for emigration; authorities estimate thousands leave daily to seek work abroad. Protesters and analysts also pointed to persistent allegations of graft among senior politicians as a factor driving the demonstrations.
As the demonstrations continued, the immediate focus turned to how a caretaker government under Oli might handle security and a political transition and whether investigators will swiftly and transparently examine the shootings that provoked national outrage. The president and party leaders have called for dialogue, but many protesters demanded the removal of the current ruling figures and accountability for those responsible for the bloodshed.
Authorities had not released a final tally of arrests or a full account of the circumstances that led to the use of live ammunition. International human rights groups and diplomatic missions urged restraint, protection of civilians and immediate investigations into the killings. The pace and outcome of any political realignment will depend on negotiations among Nepal’s fractious parties and whether protesters sustain pressure on the streets.
The violence marks one of Nepal’s deadliest recent episodes of domestic unrest. Officials, political leaders and rights monitors said independent review and transparent handling of the events will be critical in the immediate days ahead to restore order and address the grievances that fueled the protests.