Nepal in Turmoil as Prime Minister Steps Down Amid Deadly Protests and Widespread Arson

Kathmandu, Sept. 9, 2025

Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday after two days of mass protests over alleged government corruption and a short-lived ban on major social media platforms that escalated into deadly clashes and widespread arson. Reuters and AP reported the resignation and said it followed violent confrontations between demonstrators and security forces that left over 400 people injured and at least 19 people dead.

Protests began as youth-led demonstrations criticizing corruption, nepotism and the government’s decision to block about two dozen social platforms. Organised largely by students and young activists (widely described in coverage as “Gen Z” protests), the movement quickly broadened into nationwide anti-government unrest. After crowds defied an indefinite curfew, security forces used tear gas, rubber bullets and — according to multiple reports — live ammunition in some clashes.

Anger spilled into targeted attacks on political buildings and private residences. Protesters broke into and set fire to parts of the parliament complex and to the headquarters of major political parties; homes of senior political figures — including reports that residences of the president and other top leaders were torched — were also attacked. Authorities moved to evacuate prominent officials as unrest spread and major transport hubs were disrupted.

The government lifted the social media restrictions after the first day of demonstrations, but that did not stem the unrest. An indefinite curfew was imposed in several cities; Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu temporarily suspended some operations as the situation worsened. Political leaders and analysts quoted in coverage described the resignations and the violence as symptoms of deep public frustration over corruption and the perceived impunity of political elites.

President Ram Chandra Paudel accepted Oli’s resignation, according to Nepali media summaries and live reporting, and other senior officials — including some cabinet ministers and party figures — reportedly stepped down or were forced out amid the crisis. Coverage from international outlets emphasized the speed with which events unfolded: protests and social media ban on one day, deadly clashes and large-scale arson the next, and the prime minister’s resignation thereafter.

Observers warned the crisis could test Nepal’s democratic institutions and stability in the short term. While officials have called for calm; protest organisers said they would continue to demand accountability and systemic change.