Nepal PM Resigns as Gen Z-Led Anti-Corruption Protests Escalate

Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday after days of mass protests led by young anti-corruption demonstrators that defied curfews, clashed with police, and left 19 people dead in the first wave of unrest.

The protests were triggered by the government’s decision to block social media platforms, sparking outrage among young Nepalis already frustrated by corruption and a lack of opportunities. The ban was lifted after violent clashes on Monday, during which police fired rubber bullets and tear gas, injuring more than 100 people.

A demonstrator shouts slogans during a protest against corruption and the government’s decision to block several social media platforms, in Kathmandu, Nepal September 8, 2025. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

“In view of the adverse situation in the country, I have resigned effective today to facilitate a solution,” Oli, 73, said in a letter to President Ramchandra Paudel. The president has begun consultations to appoint a new premier and has summoned protest leaders for talks.

Despite the resignation, demonstrations continued in Kathmandu and across the country. Jubilant youths stormed parliament, waving banners and spray-painting “We won” on its walls, while others set tires ablaze and targeted politicians’ homes. Witnesses reported fires at the prime minister’s residence and ministries in the Singha Durbar government complex.

The army urged protesters to stand down, pledging to protect “lives and property.” International actors also weighed in: the United States called for restraint, urging all sides to avoid violence.

Oli’s fall comes just over a year after he began his fourth term, becoming the 14th prime minister since Nepal abolished its monarchy in 2008. His government has faced mounting criticism over graft allegations, high living costs, and curbs on free expression.

The demonstrations, described by organisers as “Gen Z protests,” reflect deep disillusionment among Nepal’s youth. Millions have left the country to work abroad, while at home many see corruption and privilege holding back progress.

“The protest was intended, first and foremost, against rampant corruption in government,” one demonstrator wrote in an email to Reuters, signing off as “a concerned Nepali citizen.”

Flames rise from the burning Singha Durbar office complex that houses the Nepali prime minister’s office and other ministries, amid a protest against Monday’s killing of 19 people after anti-corruption protests that were triggered by a social media ban which was later lifted, during a curfew in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 9, 2025. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Kathmandu’s main international airport was shut down on Tuesday after smoke from fires filled the skies, cutting off Nepal’s primary global gateway.

With Oli gone, Nepal now faces a political vacuum as leaders scramble to restore order. But for many young Nepalis, the movement is just beginning.