In September 2025, large-scale anti-corruption protests and demonstrations took place across Nepal, predominantly organized by Generation Z students and young citizens.[9] Also known as "the Gen Z protests",[a][10] they began following a nationwide ban on numerous social media platforms, and they incorporated the public's frustration with corruption and display of wealth by government officials and their families, as well as allegations of mismanagement of public funds.[11][12] The movement expanded to encompass broader issues of governance, transparency, and political accountability.[13][14][15][16] The protests escalated, with violence against public officials and vandalism of government and political buildings taking place throughout the country.
On 4 September 2025, the Government of Nepal ordered the shutdown of 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, Signal, and Snapchat, for failing to register under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology's new rules.[15] According to People's Dispatch, the registration requirement had been motivated in part as a way to enable the enforcement of a new Digital Services Tax and stricter value-added tax rules on foreign e-service providers in an effort to boost revenue.[19][bettersourceneeded] However, critics alleged the shutdown was prompted by a social media trend highlighting nepotism, focusing on the undue privileges enjoyed by the children and relatives of influential political leaders.[20]
According to People's Dispatch, the media platform ban had a significant impact on Nepalese political economy. 33% of the Nepalese GDP comes from remittances, with hundreds of thousands of exit permits being issued, alongside 20% youth unemployment. These remittances keep thousands of households afloat and pay import bills, and also indicate a lack of structural transformation in the domestic economy toward an employment-first model, pushing the youth into work in online spaces.[19][bettersourceneeded] Banning social media thus threatened youth livelihood.[citation needed]
Prior to the protests, the average Nepali citizen made US$1,400 per year,[21] while families of the country's ruling elite displayed their wealth on social media. This "Nepo Kid" trend prompted significant public anger, particularly from Generation Z users.[20][22] The median age of Nepal's population is 25, meaning that a large part of the population is in Gen Z, the age group that uses social media the most. Age, the country's largely rural, rough terrain and substantial migration abroad, leads Nepal to have some of the highest social media usage in South Asia. 48% of Nepalese have a social media account while only 33.7% of Indians have a social media account.[23]
According to India Today, messages in the Hami Nepal discord advocated for violence against the Nepalese leadership.[5] Tactical discussions on discord included procurement or use of Molotov cocktails, advise to seize ammunition from police stations, and disabling aeroplane tyres using acetylene gas. After police response led to 19 deaths, organisers in some Discord servers asked members to stop attending classes. They called for an indefinite closure of colleges and schools until the government accepted accountability for the fatalities.[29]
After Oli's resignation, the army's chiefs met with Hami Nepal and asked them to suggest nominees for an interim leader who would oversee national elections. More than 10,000 (per Al Jazeera English)[27] or 100,000 (per The New York Times)[28] users met virtually in their Discord channel to debate. After discussions, several polls, and the use of a sub-room for fact-checking,[27] the members settled on Sushila Karki. Shaswot Lamichhane, a channel moderator and recent high school graduate, said the discussions were meant to simulate a "mini-election".[28] Supporters of the process were seen by Al Jazeera English as viewing the online process as "a revolutionary counter to the traditional practice of politicians choosing leaders behind closed doors, which had displayed little transparency."[27]
Timeline
8 September
Large gatherings took place in Kathmandu,[10] particularly at Maitighar Mandala and around the federal parliament building, New Baneshwor, with tens of thousands of participants.[31][32] The protests were originally organized as a peaceful rally by Hami Nepal,[5] an NGO[33][34] whose website highlights earthquake relief projects.[35] Anil Baniya, one of the protest organisers from Hami Nepal, said the government cracked down on the protesters after, Megraj Giri, another protester, threw a rock at a CCTV camera. Baniya stated that what began as a peaceful protest was hijacked by "external forces and political party cadres" but that regardless, the government should not have responded to stones being thrown with live ammunition from the armed police.[21] The Straw Hat Pirates' Jolly Roger flag from the manga series One Piece was used by some protesters, in similar fashion to the 2025 Indonesian protests.[36]
The original protest grew and evolved to a movement with no formal leadership, individuals joined voluntarily in opposition to corruption and the social media ban. The demonstrations escalated when protesters attempted to enter the Federal Parliament of Nepal, leading security forces to respond with tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition.[37] Video Geolocation published in the evening showed numerous victims killed in front of the parliament building. Victims were seen lying inanimate on the ground, many with serious or fatal wounds to the head and torso. Videos showed victims with their faces blown off. An expert identified bullets fired as coming from a lightweight 7.62x51mm automatic rifle.[38] The Kathmandu District Administration Office imposed a curfew in parts of the capital near government buildings. However, protests continued.[21]
The confrontations resulted in at least 19 people killed and more than 347 people injured.[39][37][40] Seventeen of those protesters were killed in the capital.[38]
In the evening, the government lifted the ban on social media platforms.[41] Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned.[42] A curfew was imposed in several major cities including Kathmandu, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Butwal, Pokhara, Itahari, and Damak.[43] Following this, protests for the complete dissolution of parliament began. This was primarily caused by the initial government response to the original protests.[21]
Nepalese Parliament building on September 20 2025.
Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli began the day with a call to all parties to cease violent action, but he did not respond to the corruption allegations.[1] Then he directed his Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) ministers not to resign their posts and resigned his own office.[1][44] Afterwards, Oli fled to an army barracks in Shivapuri at Budhanilkantha.[45] There were conflicting reports on whether President Ram Chandra Poudel resigned as well, as the Nepalese Army denied reports of Poudel's resignation.[46][47][48] Despite this, protests continued nationwide. Protestors set fire to many government buildings: part of Singha Durbar, the administrative headquarters of Nepal;[49] the adjacent building of the Supreme Court of Nepal;[50] the president's residence at Sital Niwas;[51][52][53] the prime minister's residence at Baluwatar;[54] and the headquarters of the Communist Party UML.[55] Multiple reports allege that Nepali Army commander Ashok Raj Sigdel advised Oli to resign in order for the Army to restore peace.[56]
Protest actions targeted several prominent locations in Kathmandu, including the residences of the prime minister and the president, as well as the homes of various government ministers and members of parliament, which were set ablaze by protesters.[57] The parliament building was set on fire.[58] The headquarters of the UML and Nepali Congress was vandalized, with party flags stripped and burned.[59] Security forces, including the Nepali Army, facilitated the safe evacuation of politicians from affected areas and evacuated to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), while attempting to control the escalating incidents of arson and destruction.[60][61] Minister of Agriculture Ram Nath Adhikari and Health Minister Pradip Paudel along with 21 MPs from the Rastriya Swatantra Party resigned,[62] along with all the MPs of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.[63] Several members left Oli's UML party.[64] Protestors went to TIA to block the political leaders from fleeing. The airport was closed and occupied by the Nepali Army.[65][66] There was ensuing confusion as hundreds of travelers were left stranded in the TIA prompted airlines to order personnel to keep all individuals sheltered within the airport.[67][68] Scheduled international flights were diverted to Pokhara or cancelled.[69]Kantipur media house was set on fire in the early evening.[70] The online news portal was stopped due to damage in its server, forcing it to post in Facebook as an alternative.[71] Other buildings burned by protesters were the new Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu and the Ministry of Health building in Ramshahpath.[72]
Several political leaders and their residences were attacked. Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, foreign minister Arzu Rana Deuba, were injured while their house was set on fire. They were handed over to the police by protestors.[73] Deputy prime minister Prakash Man Singh's house and vehicle were set on fire,[74] followed by the house of former president Bidya Devi Bhandari at Bhangal, Kathmandu.[75] Former prime minister Jhala Nath Khanal's residence was also set on fire, critically injuring his wife Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar.[76] The residence of Ramesh Lekhak was also set on fire in Naikap, Kathmandu.[77] In Rupandehi district, the houses of local politicians Bal Krishna Khand, Bhoj Prasad Shrestha and several mayors were burned.[78] In Chitwan District, the house of former prime minister Prachanda was set on fire.[79] His daughter Ganga Dahal's house was also set on fire at Lalitpur. A person was found dead the next day in the house.[80] In Hetauda, several government offices were vandalized and set on fire.[81] In Karnali Province, the parliament building and the residence of chief minister Yam Lal Kandel was set on fire.[82][83] In Biratnagar, the capital of Koshi Province, the district office and district court were set on fire, followed by the residence of the chief minister and cabinet ministers.[84]
The prison in Kailali district was attacked by the protestors. All inmates fled.[85]Rabi Lamichhane was set free from the Nakhu Jail in Kathmandu, the prison was later set on fire; all prisoners fled.[86][87]Kaski prison was also set on fire, resulting in the escape of 773 inmates.[88] In Banke District, five inmates were killed after security forces opened fire during a jailbreak at a juvenile correctional facility.[89] The building of the Road Department was severely damaged after being set on fire by protestors,[90] along with the office of Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority.[91] The lower station of the Chandragiri Cable Car was also set on fire, along with the CG Electronics Digital Park, Balambu and Thankot Police Station.[92]
Several protesters were injured. Thirty-three were treated in the Teaching Hospital.[93] Three policemen died in Koteshwor.[94]
Curfew was imposed in several cities including Kathmandu, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Butwal, Pokhara, Itahari, and Damak.[43] Additionally, the police and armed forces began going house-by-house near the protests searching for protesters, as well as raiding the Civil Service Hospital where wounded and dying protesters were taken after being shot or otherwise beaten by government forces.[21]
Talks about restoring the monarchy re-emerged, with former king Gyanendra emerging as a "symbol of resistance for those disillusioned with the current political system", particularly from the royalist opposition to the post Nepali civil war governments. Earlier in the year, monarchists protested, calling for a restoration, ending with a heavy crackdown that caused at least two deaths.[96] However, organizers urged not to resurface pro-monarchy sentiment, nor hold the Nepali flag as they believed it was a royal form of "ultranationalism." Authors and scholars began to debate the actual intention of these comments, and whether protesters really wanted a restoration of the monarchy.[97]
At around 22:00 NPT, the Nepali Army stated that it would "take charge" of the country in the absence of the prime minister to ensure "law and order" is maintained.[98][99] The press release called for cooperation as they deployed troops later that evening into the early hours of the following day.[100] Later in the evening, the Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel appealed to the agitating groups for talks.[101]
10 September
Burnt out revenue office in Chitwan, 9 September 2025
In the early morning, Nepali Army forces were seen patrolling neighborhoods in critical areas.[102] General Sigdel again encouraged protesters to remain peaceful as the government attempts to restore peace.[67][103] Between approximately 10:00 NPT on 9 September and 22:00 NPT on 10 September, the Army announced detention of 27 individuals on counts of looting, arson, and other "destructive and anarchic activities" and seizing weaponry.[104] Later reports counted 31 firearms.[89]
In some places, protestors continued raiding government buildings and politicians' homes through the night, with one video showing a group of protestors taking firearms from homes, including what is believed to be a GSG-522 carbine and a bolt-action rifle.[89][105] The pace was slowed down by noon. A group of protestors started cleaning the street near the parliament building that was set on fire the previous day.[106] Many army weapons were captured by protesters. One video included armor vests, L1A1 SLR rifles, 37mm Webley & Scott "Schermuly" grenade launchers, INSAS 1B1 rifles, Lee–Enfield rifles, and Ishapore 1A1 rifles.[107]
Protestors held online discussions on Discord to select an interim leader. Around 10:00 pm NPT, the group voted and selected Sushila Karki.[108]Balen Shah and Kul Man Ghising were other candidates. Balen reportedly did not pick up the phone.[109]Durga Prasai separately met with the army chief, but no concrete conclusion was met.[110] Karki confirmed her willingness to accept the role in an interview with News18.[111]
In Pokhara, two dead bodies were found inside a burned house at Nayabazar and Lakeside.[106]
Police stated that as of 10 September, more than 13,500 prisoners had escaped from prisons nationwide.[112] Soldiers arrested 303 of those prisoners and handed them over to police. Seventy-three rifles were also returned.[80] In Dhading District, two inmates were shot dead and seven injured by soldiers when they tried to flee,[113] while soldiers also thwarted an attempted jailbreak in Kathmandu's main prison.[114]
TIA's closure was extended late in the morning, but eventually resumed operations.[89][115]
The New York Times reported that more than 100,000 citizens were using Discord, an online communication software, to select a nominee for interim leader. The server, described as "the Parliament of Nepal", had jumped to 145,000 members. The server had reportedly settled on Sushila Karki, the country's former chief justice, and proposed her name for meetings with the Army.[28]
11 September
In the morning a meeting was held that included President Ram Chandra Poudel, Nepali Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel and Gen Z representatives. The meeting was held at Bhadrakali army headquarters as part of efforts to select an interim leader. The Gen Z group advocated for Sushila Karki to be interim prime minister. Balendra Shah, Kul Man Ghising, and mayor of Dharan, Harka Raj Rai were also considered.[116]
According to police spokesperson Binod Ghimire, the dead include 21 protesters, nine prisoners, three police officers, and 18 others.[119][120] Ghimire confirmed that more than 12,500 fugitives remain at large, after escaping from various prisons in Nepal. Some tried to cross into India, where they were apprehended by Indian border forces.[121][122]
Map of reported protest locations following 4 September ban
Sushila Karki, a former Supreme Court chief justice, was inaugurated as interim prime minister. She is the first female prime minister in the history of Nepal.[123][124] Shortly afterwards, president Poudel dissolved parliament and set 5 March as the date for the next election.[125][126]
13 September
The curfew was lifted in the Kathmandu area.[127] Prime Minister Karki began visiting injured protesters in hospitals.[128]Deutche Welle reported that calm appeared to have returned to the streets of the capital, and that normal daily activities had resumed.[129]
Aftermath
Casualties and emergency response
At least 72 people were killed in the protests,[130] with at least 2,113 injured.[131] Search teams were dispatched to recover bodies from all structures set on fire, according to the MoHP.[132] A day of national mourning for the victims was held on 17 September 2025.[133]
Protests destroyed numerous public offices, destroying equipment of essential services. Spared offices continued to operate normally while burned offices pitched tents and scraped together materials to resume services.[134]
Interim government response
According to officials from Sushila Karki's interim government, any family who lost a member in the protests would receive monetary compensation of 1 million Nepalese rupees, maximum amount allowed by the law (equivalent to about US$7,000 as of September 2025).[135][136] Those who were injured during the protests would also be compensated. At the same meeting she called out for unity in order to rebuild the country.[124]
The day Karki took office, on 14 September, she "urged calm and cooperation to rebuild" following the protests.[137] She also condemned the destruction caused by protests and claimed that some of the arson was premeditated. She also criticised those who caused damage and pledged to investigate conspiracies behind the violence, intending to spare nobody.[138] Karki said that she would remain in power for no more than six months.[137]
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), part of the opposition, condemned the social media ban and the police response to the protests, and called for the immediate dissolution of the current government.[140]
In a Facebook post, Kathmandu's mayor Balendra Shah said he could not attend the protests because of the age limit set by the organizers. However, he believed it was important to listen to their voices.[141] President Ram Chandra Poudel and the Nepalese army appealed for calm and political dialogue.[142]
Gyanendra, the former King of Nepal, issued a statement condemning the violent crackdown on the protests and calling on the government to listen to the demands of the protesters. He further urged the protest movement to remain peaceful and avoid being hijacked by criminal elements.[144] Various hotels in Pokhara's lakeside area were set on fire during the protests. The Hotel Association Pokhara Nepal called for an investigation on the vandalism and for government compensation. Due to the protests and vandalism, Pokhara’s tourism industry was heavily hit.[145][146]
International
Foreign governments
The unrest in Nepal impacted activities along the India–Nepal border. Local sources noted that markets had fallen silent, causing larger economic stagnation across neighbouring regions. Shortly after the worries, the Maharashtra State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) issued a travel advisory on 9 September requesting Indian citizens not to travel until further notice. It made emergency helplines available and encouraged both Indian and Nepali citizens in Nepal to also remain in place.[67][147] Early in the morning of 10 September, Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and several other Indian airlines officially cancelled all flights in and out of Tribhuvan International Airport, commonly known as TIA.[67] After TIA was reopened later that day, IndiGo resumed flights.[148] However, sources from inside TIA reported that the airport was still at a standstill, with little communication of updates from authorities.[149]
India's Ministry of External Affairs said it was closely monitoring the protests, expressing grief over the casualties and extending condolences to the victims' families. It also wished a speedy recovery for the injured and advised Indian citizens in Nepal to follow curfew orders and safety guidelines.[150][151][152]
The Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it was closely monitoring the situation in Nepal, while expressing condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing recovery to the injured. It also stated that it hoped a "peaceful and constructive dialogue" among "all relevant parties" in the country to resolve any kind of differences.[153]
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres's spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said the secretary-general was "deeply saddened by the loss of life" and called on the authorities to comply with international human rights law and for the protestors to respect life and property.[156]
Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said he was "appalled" by the escalating violence and called on the security forces to exercise the utmost restraint.[157] He also called for a investigation into conduct of the security forces, particularly the deaths of protestors and reports of "disproportionate use of force".[158]
Human rights groups
Amnesty International condemned the crackdown and called for independent investigation and accountability on 8 September. It called for a de-escalation while urging authorities to "exercise maximum restraint" in its use of force. It supported the protesters rights to protest peacefully and demanded the government heed the "legitimate demands of the youth to end corruption" to reestablish civil liberties.[159]
Human Rights Watch did not immediately make a statement on the protests, but suggested certain actions in a news report on 9 September. Its statements were supported by findings that the Nepali government has "a record of silencing online speech," which fueled growing discontent in younger population. Citing the ban's lifting and rampant militaristic police violence, it suggested that "Nepali authorities should promptly and impartially investigate the police use of force and appropriately discipline or prosecute all those responsible for abuses, regardless of rank." Its Asia director, Meenakshi Ganguly, underscored that the police shootings "shows the administration's appalling disregard for the lives of its own citizens and desperate need to suppress criticism." It further cited the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms and tracking of the UN Human Rights Committee to argue that the government's use of live ammunition was extrajudicial.[160]
↑ Spring Revolution Daily News for 14 September 2025. "The junta leader Min Aung Hlaing claimed that it is necessary to learn lessons from the protests in Nepal. [He] claimed that the involvement of some powerful countries from behind the [scenes] was found out in the chaos and protests..." 14 September 2025. Mizzima.
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