2025 Nepal Gen Z Protests: Youth-Led Anti-Corruption Uprising Shakes the Nation
In September 2025, Nepal was gripped by massive anti-corruption demonstrations led by Generation Z students and young citizens. Popularly dubbed the “Gen Z Protests,” the movement began after the government announced a nationwide ban on major social media platforms, sparking widespread outrage among the country’s youth.
What started as frustration over the internet blackout quickly evolved into a nationwide rebellion against corruption, political privilege, and misuse of public funds. The protests captured the voices of an entire generation demanding transparency, accountability, and fair governance.
As rallies spread from Kathmandu to smaller towns, tensions escalated rapidly. Violent clashes erupted between security forces and demonstrators, with reports of police brutality targeting students, children, and even hospitals. Some government buildings were attacked amid growing anger over the state’s failure to listen to its people.
On 9 September 2025, facing mounting public pressure, Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli and several cabinet members resigned. Merely three days later, Sushila Karki—a respected former Chief Justice—was appointed interim Prime Minister, signaling a historic political shift.
By 13 September, protests began to ease, but the toll was devastating. At least 72 lives were lost, including 19 students and a 12-year-old child. Reports confirmed 34 deaths from gunfire, marking it as one of Nepal’s deadliest youth-led uprisings in modern history.
Background
On 4 September 2025, the Nepalese government ordered a blanket ban on 26 popular social media platforms—including Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, Signal, and Snapchat. Officials claimed the move aimed to enforce new Digital Services Tax regulations and strengthen VAT compliance among global e-service providers.
However, critics saw it differently. Many accused the government of using the tax law as a pretext to silence online dissent after a viral trend exposed nepotism and wealth inequality among political elites. The so-called “Nepo Kid Trend” showcased the extravagant lifestyles of politicians’ children—contrasting starkly with Nepal’s average annual income of USD 1,400.
The move outraged young citizens, who rely heavily on the internet for work and education. With remittances forming one-third of Nepal’s GDP and youth unemployment near 20%, many Gen Z Nepalese earn through freelancing, content creation, and digital marketing. The ban effectively destroyed their livelihood overnight, deepening public resentment.
With a median age of just 25 and nearly half the population active online, Nepal’s digital generation viewed the ban as a direct attack on freedom and opportunity—a spark that ignited nationwide unrest.
Digital Coordination
The protests were largely coordinated online by youth-led organizations such as Hami Nepal, a group that gained recognition for its earthquake relief work before becoming a hub for digital activism. Using Discord servers, VPNs, and QR-encoded flyers, thousands of young Nepalese mobilized, shared real-time updates, and planned peaceful demonstrations.
Despite the open structure of these online spaces, they became vulnerable to misinformation and political infiltration. According to India Today, some online posts allegedly encouraged violent tactics—claims that Hami Nepal leaders later denounced.
After early police crackdowns resulted in 19 deaths, protest organizers called for a nationwide student strike demanding justice and accountability.
Following Prime Minister Oli’s resignation, the Nepalese Army invited Hami Nepal representatives for consultations on the interim leadership. In a landmark act of digital democracy, over 10,000 young users participated in an online vote via Discord, ultimately endorsing Sushila Karki as interim Prime Minister.
This process—led by Sudan Gurung (Hami Nepal founder) and Shaswot Lamichhane (a tech-savvy graduate and moderator)—was hailed by Al Jazeera English as “a revolutionary moment in Nepal’s digital democracy, challenging the culture of secret political deals.”
Timeline of Key Events
8 September 2025 —
Massive rallies erupted in Kathmandu, centered around Maitighar Mandala and the Federal Parliament in New Baneshwor. Tens of thousands joined the demonstrations, initially intended to be peaceful.
Organizer Anil Baniya recounted that violence began after a protester, Megraj Giri, threw a rock at a CCTV camera, prompting an immediate police assault. According to him, outside political actors later hijacked the event—but the use of live ammunition was “beyond justification.”
Many protesters waved the Straw Hat Pirates flag from One Piece, mirroring youth protest symbolism seen in Indonesia’s 2025 movements.
As protesters attempted to approach Parliament, police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live rounds. Verified footage showed several demonstrators fatally shot near Parliament’s gate, sustaining head and chest wounds from 7.62×51 mm bullets.
That night, the Kathmandu District Administration imposed a curfew, but unrest spread across the nation. By midnight, 19 were dead and over 340 injured, including 17 in Kathmandu. The National Human Rights Commission condemned the excessive force, calling for immediate restraint.
In an effort to calm the crisis, the government lifted the social-media ban, and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak stepped down. However, despite curfews in major cities like Birgunj, Pokhara, Butwal, Itahari, and Damak, demands for the dissolution of Parliament grew louder—fueled by outrage at the deadly crackdown.
9 September 2025 – The Storming of the Nepalese Parliament
The 2025 Nepal Gen Z protests reached their most explosive moment on 9 September, when tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded Kathmandu and other major cities in what became known as the Storming of the Nepalese Parliament.
That morning, Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli made a televised appeal calling for calm, but he notably refused to address the widespread corruption allegations that had sparked the uprising. Only a few hours later, Oli resigned from office but instructed members of his Communist Party of Nepal (UML) to remain in government. Soon after, he reportedly fled to an army base in Shivapuri, Budhanilkantha, as rumors spread that President Ram Chandra Poudel might also step down—claims later denied by military officials.
Across Nepal, chaos erupted. Protesters set fire to government and judicial buildings, including sections of Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court of Nepal, and even the presidential and prime ministerial residences at Sital Niwas and Baluwatar. Party headquarters of both the UML and Nepali Congress were ransacked, with political symbols and flags burned in public squares. Security forces scrambled to evacuate lawmakers via Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), which was later seized and shut down by the army after protesters blocked escaping politicians.
The violence spread rapidly beyond the capital. Media houses, hotels, and ministries were attacked—Kantipur Media House saw its servers destroyed, forcing broadcasts to continue through Facebook Live, while the Hilton Hotel and Ministry of Health buildings were set ablaze.
Prominent politicians’ homes were also targeted: residences belonging to Sher Bahadur Deuba, Arzu Rana Deuba, Prakash Man Singh, Bidya Devi Bhandari, and Jhala Nath Khanal came under attack, with Khanal’s wife critically injured. In the provinces, the homes and offices of several ministers were torched—including Prachanda’s residence in Chitwan and his daughter’s home in Lalitpur, where one person was killed.
Prisons were stormed across the country, leading to mass jailbreaks. By the next morning, an estimated 13,000 inmates had escaped from facilities in Kailali, Kaski, Banke, and Kathmandu.
Authorities responded with curfews, house raids, and even tear gas attacks on hospitals treating the wounded. By nightfall, dozens were dead, hundreds injured, and three police officers had been killed in Koteshwor.
Amid the unrest, calls to restore Nepal’s monarchy briefly gained traction. Although former King Gyanendra emerged as a symbolic figure, youth organizers rejected monarchist affiliations, insisting their struggle was rooted in democratic reform, not royal revival.
Late that night, Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel declared that the Nepalese Army would take temporary control to restore order and opened dialogue with protest leaders.
10 September 2025 – Military Intervention and Digital Democracy
By dawn, army convoys patrolled the streets of Kathmandu. General Sigdel again appealed for calm, confirming the detention of 27 suspects for arson and looting, and the seizure of 31 illegal firearms.
Despite scattered riots, cleanup efforts began around the Parliament by noon as volunteers and residents removed debris. Meanwhile, videos circulated online showing mobs seizing weapons—including GSG-522 carbines, INSAS 1B1 rifles, and Webley & Scott grenade launchers—from abandoned police vehicles.
Amid the turmoil, youth organizers shifted their coordination online. Using Discord, the same digital platform that had fueled the movement, thousands of young citizens debated and voted for an interim leader. By 10 p.m., Sushila Karki, Nepal’s former Chief Justice, emerged as the top choice over Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah and energy executive Kul Man Ghising.
Karki confirmed to News18 that she was willing to lead a caretaker government until elections could be held.
At the same time, authorities reported over 13,500 prisoners on the loose. While some fugitives were recaptured and stolen weapons retrieved, curfews and flight suspensions at TIA continued into the evening.
11 September 2025 – The Path Toward Transition
A crucial meeting took place at Bhadrakali Army Headquarters, attended by President Poudel, General Sigdel, and Gen Z coalition delegates. The youth formally proposed Sushila Karki as interim prime minister, with Balen Shah, Kul Man Ghising, and Harka Raj Rai also considered.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), publicly endorsed the protests, urging the youth to maintain nonviolence and democratic integrity.
By evening, the death toll had risen to 34, with over 1,300 injured, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.
12 September 2025 – A New Leadership
Police spokesperson Binod Ghimire confirmed the loss of 21 protesters, 9 prisoners, 3 police officers, and 18 civilians. More than 12,500 escapees remained unaccounted for, with some arrested near the Indian border.
That afternoon, Sushila Karki was sworn in as Nepal’s first female Prime Minister, following the dissolution of Parliament by President Poudel. Elections were scheduled for 5 March 2026, signaling a major democratic reset for Nepal.
13 September 2025 – Calm Restored
By morning, curfews were lifted in Kathmandu. Prime Minister Karki visited injured protesters, pledging justice, reform, and reconciliation. Deutsche Welle reported that peace had largely returned, with shops reopening and public transport resuming, ending one of the most violent weeks in Nepal’s history.
Casualties and Emergency Response
By the end of the uprising, 72 people were confirmed dead, including a 12-year-old child and 19 university students. Postmortems revealed that 34 victims died from gunshot wounds to the head, chest, or abdomen.
Over 2,100 people were injured, and hospitals across Nepal were overwhelmed. Emergency teams worked to recover bodies from burned-out buildings. On 17 September, the government observed a National Day of Mourning for the victims.
Essential ministries that survived the destruction resumed work, while others operated from tents and temporary offices to restore public services.
Interim Government Response
Upon taking office on 14 September, Prime Minister Karki announced that each family of the deceased would receive 1 million Nepalese rupees (US $7,000) in compensation—the maximum allowed by law. Injured protesters were also promised state-funded medical assistance.
In her first public address, Karki called for unity, condemned organized acts of arson, and vowed to investigate all instigators and conspirators, promising accountability “without exception.” She further pledged to serve no longer than six months and to restore full democracy through free and fair elections.
Domestic Reactions
Government and Political Leaders
Former Justice Minister Gobinda Bandi declared that the social-media ban violated both Nepal’s Constitution and international human-rights treaties like the ICCPR.
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) condemned both the ban and the violent suppression, demanding Parliament’s dissolution.
Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, though barred from participating due to legal age limits, voiced full support for the youth, saying their “message must be heard.”
President Poudel and the Nepalese Army issued a joint appeal for peace and dialogue.
Public and Civil Society
Former King Gyanendra Shah urged both sides to embrace dialogue while denouncing violence.
In Pokhara, several lakeside hotels were burned, prompting the Hotel Association Nepal to seek government compensation, calling the tourism damage “devastating.”
By October, Nepalese doctors appealed to the UN Human Rights Council, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization to investigate attacks on children and medical workers.
International Reactions
Neighbouring Countries
The unrest disrupted trade along the India–Nepal border. India issued travel advisories and temporarily suspended flights to Kathmandu. Its Ministry of External Affairs expressed condolences and urged restraint.
Bangladesh called for “constructive dialogue,” while Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing warned regional allies to “learn from Nepal’s turmoil.”
United Nations and Human Rights Bodies
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and urged compliance with international law.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk demanded an independent inquiry into the use of live ammunition and disproportionate force.
Human Rights Organizations
Amnesty International denounced the crackdown, urging the government to protect peaceful protest rights.
Human Rights Watch criticized the state’s “appalling disregard for citizens’ lives,” while FIDH and OMCT jointly called for accountability, digital freedom, and permanent legal safeguards against future online repression.
