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Nepal: Revolutionary 'Gen Z' protests spark global solidarity

What began as outrage over a social media blackout has spiralled into nationwide protests against corruption and repression
Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, Nepal's main administrative building, in Kathmandu, on 9 September 2025, a day after a police crackdown on demonstrations over social media prohibitions and government corruption (Prabin Ranabhat/AFP)
By MEE staff
Published date: 10 September 2025 21:03 BST | Last update: 2 months ago

Nepal has been engulfed in its deadliest unrest in years this week after the government banned major social media platforms on Thursday, triggering a wave of demonstrations led largely by youth.

The unrest, widely dubbed the "Gen Z" protest, began on Monday, sparked by anger over restrictions on freedom of expression.

Within hours of last week's ban, thousands began pouring on to the streets of the capital, Kathmandu, and other cities, and the protests quickly escalated into a broader uprising against corruption, political patronage, and entrenched inequality.

Protesters erected barricades, set tyres alight, and clashed with officers in some of the most violent scenes since the end of the civil war in 2006.

Security forces responded with force. Police fired live ammunition, tear gas, and rubber bullets into crowds, while social media users did not hold back their criticisms of the unfolding scenes.

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For many young Nepalis, who rely heavily on these platforms for communication, work, and activism, the ban was seen as an attack on their freedoms.

Nepali officials had stated that platforms such as Facebook, X, and YouTube, among others, had failed to register under the country's new regulations.

At least 25 people were killed and more than 600 others were wounded during the chaos, according to rights groups and local media.

The scale of the unrest forced the government to deploy the army. Soldiers were stationed across the capital, while authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in an attempt to restore order. Despite the restrictions, protesters continued to gather, chanting slogans against the political elite and demanding the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

On Monday, Oli announced he was stepping down, though he will remain in office as caretaker until a new arrangement is decided. His resignation marked a dramatic turn in a crisis that has shaken Nepal’s fragile democracy and left many questioning the country’s leadership.

Protesters also stormed government buildings, setting fire to parliament and ruling party offices. The destruction symbolised, for many, deep frustration with a political system widely seen as corrupt and unresponsive to citizens’ needs.

In a bid to ease tensions, the government lifted the social media ban and promised a package of concessions: financial compensation for the families of those killed, free medical care for the wounded, and the creation of a 15-day commission to investigate the government crackdown. 

Critics, however, argue that such steps are unlikely to calm a movement that has grown into something much larger than its original cause.

Many on social media said it was “shameful” for international media to frame Nepal’s Gen Z protest as being only against the social media ban, while the bigger picture represents anger towards corruption. 

Many have described the demonstrations as Nepal’s “Gen Z revolution.” The protests have revealed generational anger at a political class dominated by older leaders who have rotated in and out of power for decades.

With Oli gone, demonstrators are now pushing for a caretaker government led by figures outside the political establishment. One widely discussed option is former chief justice Sushila Karki, who has been floated as a credible interim leader due to her reputation for integrity. 

Many commentators said that whether such a proposal gains traction remains to be seen, but it reflects how far the movement has already shifted Nepal’s political conversation.

What began as anger over a social media ban has evolved into a generational demand for accountability and reform. 

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