On September 8, anti-corruption protesters attempted to make their way into Parliament buildings in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. Police opened fire as tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets were aimed at protesters. Peaceful protests turned into riots as citizens looted and burned banks, bookstores and government buildings, and attacked several politicians in their homes. The protests killed 70 people and injured thousands more.
On September 9, the Prime Minister of Nepal, Khadga Prasad Oli, resigned. In an Instagram post, Oli said, “Now your generation will have to lead the country,” and advised them to “be prepared!”
The resignation opened the door for Nepal’s first female prime minister to take office. Previously Nepal’s first female justice, 73-year-old Sushila Karki stepped into the role of Interim Prime Minister. Protesters backed both her role as interim and the official elections in March 2026.
Ashish Pradhan, a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group said the demonstrations from protesters were a “wholesale rejection of Nepal’s current political class for decades of poor governance and exploitation of state resources.”
In a statement to BBC Nepali, Subhana Budhadthoki, a Nepali content creator, stated, “[Generation] Z will not stop now. This protest is about more than just social media — it’s about silencing our voices, and we won’t let that happen.”
The Gen Z protesters were frustrated with corruption in the nation, primarily from “nepo babies,” or the children of powerful politicians that showed off their incredible wealth via social media platforms. Saugat Thapa, the son of a powerful provincial minister, was seen posing next to a christmas tree complete with luxury brand boxes. The post was interpreted as flaunting wealth that is unattainable for the majority of Nepali citizens. It becomes particularly frustrating when Nepal’s youth is not living as grand. According to Macrotrends, over 20 percent of Nepal’s youth is unemployed.
Further motivation for riots was Nepal’s decision to ban 26 social media platforms in September, among them Facebook, X and YouTube. Protesters saw this as an attempt to censor any criticism of the government. The ban has been lifted since Oli’s resignation.
According to Transparency International, since 2020, 84 percent of Nepal’s population believes the government is corrupt. Since the end of the nation’s monarchy in 2008, political instability has become a constant. With Karki forming Nepal’s 15th government in 17 years, the nation has yet to see a leader complete a full term.
Often seen in the protests was a flag inspired by the Japanese manga “One Piece.” The flag with a skull represented a character in the series who stood for liberty.
Although violent riots have subsided, protesters and activists continue to fight for a lasting, stable government.
