Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned in the wake of public outrage over the killing of 21 people in police clashes with anti-corruption protesters. His office said he had stepped down to pave the way for a constitutional solution to the massive youth-led protests over widespread allegations of corruption and sparked by a social media ban, which has since been withdrawn.
The protests turned violent as thousands – many identifying themselves as Gen Z on placards and banners – took to the streets of Kathmandu on Monday. Almost 200 people are believed to have been injured in clashes with police, who used tear gas, water cannons, and live bullets as protesters scaled the walls of the parliament and other official buildings.
The protests continued on Tuesday, with demonstrators setting fire to the headquarters of the Nepali Congress Party and the home of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The homes of several other politicians have also been vandalised.
Social media is a big part of Nepali life. Indeed, the country has one of South Asia's highest user rates per capita. The demonstrations were triggered by the government's decision last week to ban 26 social media platforms for failing to meet a deadline to register. Critics accused the government of seeking to stifle an anti-corruption campaign with the ban, which was repealed on Monday night.
Protesters, many of them college students, have linked the social media blockade with curtailing freedom of speech and had clear demands: lift the ban on social media and end corrupt practices. They have voiced their frustrations not just about the ban but also about the growing corruption among politicians.
Reflecting the voices of a discontented youth, the "NepoKids" trend has emerged, symbolizing frustration over perceived inequality, contrasting the lavish lifestyles of political families with the struggles of ordinary Nepalis. If the government fails to engage meaningfully, analysts warn the unrest could escalate further.
The protests turned violent as thousands – many identifying themselves as Gen Z on placards and banners – took to the streets of Kathmandu on Monday. Almost 200 people are believed to have been injured in clashes with police, who used tear gas, water cannons, and live bullets as protesters scaled the walls of the parliament and other official buildings.
The protests continued on Tuesday, with demonstrators setting fire to the headquarters of the Nepali Congress Party and the home of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The homes of several other politicians have also been vandalised.
Social media is a big part of Nepali life. Indeed, the country has one of South Asia's highest user rates per capita. The demonstrations were triggered by the government's decision last week to ban 26 social media platforms for failing to meet a deadline to register. Critics accused the government of seeking to stifle an anti-corruption campaign with the ban, which was repealed on Monday night.
Protesters, many of them college students, have linked the social media blockade with curtailing freedom of speech and had clear demands: lift the ban on social media and end corrupt practices. They have voiced their frustrations not just about the ban but also about the growing corruption among politicians.
Reflecting the voices of a discontented youth, the "NepoKids" trend has emerged, symbolizing frustration over perceived inequality, contrasting the lavish lifestyles of political families with the struggles of ordinary Nepalis. If the government fails to engage meaningfully, analysts warn the unrest could escalate further.
