KATHMANDU – Nepal was thrust into a fresh wave of political uncertainty on Tuesday as Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli announced his resignation, forced out by an unprecedented uprising led largely by the country’s restless youth. His dramatic departure came less than a day after bloody clashes between protesters and security forces left at least 19 people dead and more than 100 others wounded, despite the government’s imposition of a sweeping nationwide curfew.
The unrest was triggered by Oli’s decision to impose a blanket ban on social media platforms—a move widely condemned as authoritarian and deeply out of step with a society that relies heavily on online platforms for communication, mobilization, and economic activity. Intended to stifle dissent, the ban instead became a lightning rod for outrage. For many young Nepalis—already weary of corruption scandals, years of political infighting, and dwindling job opportunities—the ban symbolized everything that was broken in their governance. Even though the restrictions were quickly rolled back after protesters stormed parliament grounds, the anger had already snowballed into a nationwide revolt.
By Tuesday, Kathmandu and other major cities were engulfed in mass demonstrations. Students, young professionals, and migrant workers’ families defied the curfew and police barricades, transforming the streets into arenas of defiance. Chants demanding systemic reform echoed through the capital as demonstrators carried flags, painted slogans, and called not only for Oli’s resignation but also for sweeping changes to Nepal’s political system, which they view as elitist and unresponsive. Under mounting pressure and amid fears of spiraling violence, Oli submitted his resignation to President Ramchandra Paudel, declaring that he was stepping down “to facilitate a political solution in accordance with the constitution.”
President Paudel wasted no time initiating discussions with political parties to chart the way forward. In a rare gesture, he also reached out directly to leaders of the protest movement, signaling a willingness to hear their grievances and possibly integrate them into the search for a resolution. Though no immediate agreement was forged, the move offered a glimmer of hope that dialogue might prevail over confrontation.The military, too, intervened—though carefully. Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel addressed the nation in a televised message, urging protesters to retreat and warning against further loss of life. The army later released a statement pledging its “unwavering commitment” to the protection of lives and property. By refraining from signaling any intent to enter the political arena, the military appeared to strike a delicate balance: projecting authority while avoiding the specter of military intervention in governance.
The international response was swift. The United States urged calm and restraint from all sides, reiterating its support for Nepal’s democratic aspirations and long-term prosperity. Analysts warned that the unfolding crisis will also be closely monitored by Nepal’s powerful neighbors, India and China, both of which have long regarded the landlocked Himalayan nation as a critical sphere of influence. With Kathmandu caught between their competing interests, the crisis carries implications that extend well beyond Nepal’s borders.
On the ground, the atmosphere in Kathmandu shifted dramatically after Oli’s resignation. Where grief and confrontation had dominated the previous day, celebration and triumph now took hold. Protesters surged into the parliament complex, waving flags and singing songs of victory. Some carried banners declaring “A New Nepal,” while one activist spray-painted the words “We won” in bold orange letters on the walls of the legislature—an image that quickly went viral and became a defining symbol of the movement. Unlike Monday’s deadly clashes, Tuesday’s gatherings were largely peaceful, with security forces deliberately keeping their distance.
Observers are already calling this wave of protests the most consequential political uprising since the abolition of Nepal’s centuries-old monarchy in 2008. For more than a decade, the Himalayan nation has lurched from one unstable government to another, plagued by short-lived coalitions, constitutional disputes, and an economy unable to meet the aspirations of its youth. With limited opportunities at home, millions of Nepalis have sought work abroad—particularly in the Middle East, Malaysia, and South Korea—sending remittances that now make up a cornerstone of the national economy. Yet the protests revealed a generation no longer content to see migration as their only escape route, instead demanding change at home.
With Oli gone, Nepal now stands at a crossroads. The immediate challenge lies in choosing a new prime minister and restoring stability. The larger and more difficult test, however, is whether the political establishment can respond to the cries for accountability, transparency, and reform that have erupted so forcefully from the streets. Failure to do so risks plunging the nation into yet another cycle of instability, deepening public disillusionment with the very foundations of its democracy.
Still, for many young Nepalis, the events of this week have already etched themselves into history as a moment of empowerment. The forced resignation of a sitting prime minister under relentless public pressure is more than just a political crisis—it is a watershed moment, proof that the voice of the people, long ignored, can no longer be dismissed.
Prime Minister’s Residence Stormed
Oli, 73, was sworn in for his fourth term as prime minister in July of last year, making him the 14th individual to hold the post since Nepal abolished its monarchy in 2008. His government, however, began to unravel in recent days as pressure mounted. On Monday, two of his cabinet ministers stepped down, citing “moral grounds” amid the growing crisis and escalating public anger.
Earlier on Tuesday, before submitting his resignation, Oli convened an emergency meeting of political parties. In his remarks, he appealed for calm and insisted that violence was against the interests of the nation. He urged dialogue as the path forward, though he notably avoided addressing the core accusations of corruption that had fueled the uprising.
Despite his appeal, protesters continued to defy the government’s indefinite curfew, pouring into the streets of Kathmandu and converging around parliament. Demonstrators lit tyres ablaze on key roads, hurled stones at riot police, and even pursued officers through the city’s narrow alleyways. The confrontations grew increasingly volatile, with several neighborhoods transformed into battlegrounds.
Eyewitnesses reported that in some areas, the unrest escalated further, as crowds set fire to the residences of prominent politicians. Local media outlets said several cabinet members were airlifted to safety by military helicopters after mobs descended on their homes. Among the most heavily affected was the Singha Durbar complex—Nepal’s central administrative hub housing the Prime Minister’s Office, parliament, and other key ministries—which protesters attacked and set ablaze. Oli’s private residence was also targeted, underscoring the intensity of the public rage.
Footage widely shared on social media revealed dramatic scenes: former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana, were confronted and attacked by demonstrators. Foreign Minister Arzu Rana, who had served under Oli, and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel were also shown being chased and assaulted by furious crowds. These images spread rapidly online, highlighting the ferocity of the unrest and the direct risks faced by Nepal’s political elite.The scale of destruction and the targeting of top leaders underscored how the protests had transformed from a movement demanding reform into a sweeping rejection of the ruling class itself, signaling just how far public trust in political leadership had eroded.
Impact on Kathmandu Airport.
Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal’s busiest and only major international gateway, was forced to shut down on Tuesday after thick plumes of smoke from fires set by demonstrators drifted across the runway, disrupting air traffic. The airport closure underscored the scale of the unrest, which has now spread beyond the capital to several other cities.
Organizers described the movement as a “Gen Z uprising,” a wave of demonstrations spearheaded largely by young Nepalis disillusioned with entrenched corruption and the government’s failure to create meaningful economic opportunities.“ The primary aim of the protests was to denounce widespread corruption in government,” read an email from a participant, signed simply ‘a concerned Nepali citizen.’ The statement echoed a growing sentiment among Nepal’s youth, who have taken to the streets demanding systemic reform.
Much of the anger had been fueled by online discussions highlighting the lavish lifestyles of politicians, bureaucrats, and their families—images that circulated widely on social media platforms. Posts comparing the wealth and privileges of political elites with the struggles of ordinary citizens struck a chord with young people, amplifying the call for accountability. The Oli government, however, responded by tightening restrictions on digital spaces. Just last week, authorities blocked access to several online platforms, accusing them of operating without registration and claiming they were being misused to spread disinformation and facilitate fraud. Critics, however, viewed the move as a deliberate attempt to silence dissent and control the narrative at a time of growing discontent.