In 1996, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) launched an armed insurgency aimed at overthrowing the monarchy and establishing a people's republic.

From 2001 royal massacre to Gen-Z protests: Nepal’s dark history of political unrest

Protests in Nepal have spiralled into the country’s worst unrest in decades, even after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday (September 09). His departure followed three days of violent demonstrations triggered by a short-lived social media ban and fuelled by anger over corruption. At least 22 people have been killed in clashes with police. But instead of easing tensions, Oli’s exit has left a leadership vacuum and raised fresh questions over who is in charge.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nepal-protests-live-today-what-is-happening-in-kathmandu-why-did-pm-oli-resign-and-where-do-nepokids-and-gen-z-fit-into-the-unrest-1757416884577">Nepal protests: What is happening in Kathmandu? Why did PM Oli resign, and where do 'NepoKids' and Gen Z fit into the unrest?</a><h2>Protesters torch parliament and prisons breached</h2>On Tuesday, crowds stormed and set fire to parliament in Kathmandu, with thick smoke rising across the capital. Government buildings and homes of senior politicians were also attacked. Officials confirmed that 900 inmates escaped from two prisons in western Nepal. Inside parliament, jubilant demonstrators smashed windows, spray-painted anti-government slogans and danced around bonfires while waving the national flag.<h2>Who is leading Nepal now?</h2>Oli’s resignation has left no clear successor, while some ministers have reportedly sought refuge with security forces. Nepalese President Ram Chandra Poudel has accepted Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s resignation but said his cabinet will “continue to run the government until a new Council of Ministers is formed.”“As Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s resignation has already been accepted, there is a need for cooperation of all sides who love the country, people and democracy, to find a solution to the current stalemate,” the president said. The president added that the current cabinet will function under Article 77 (3) of the Constitution until a new one takes charge.Nepal’s army chief, General Ashok Raj Sigdel, warned protesters against looting and arson, saying, “All security institutions, including the Nepal Army, are committed to taking control of the situation.” Troops are now patrolling the streets, though the army has also invited protesters to enter dialogue. It remains uncertain who the protesters’ representatives would be, since the movement has no clear leadership and grew out of online calls to action. The only mainstream political figure openly backing the protesters so far is Kathmandu’s mayor, Balen Shah.<h2>What are the protesters demanding?</h2>The demonstrations began as a backlash to the government’s sudden ban on social media, which was lifted on Monday. However, the anger has since evolved into a broader anti-corruption movement. Protesters, many of them students, argue the ban was an attack on free speech and accuse politicians of corruption. Their chants now focus on demanding accountability and an end to what they call “corrupt practices”.One of the defining features of the unrest has been the viral slogans #NepoBaby and #NepoKids, which have flooded TikTok and Instagram.Videos comparing the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ families, luxury cars, foreign trips and designer clothes, with the struggles of ordinary Nepalis. Protesters say these families thrive on privilege and public money, while many young people face unemployment and migration abroad.

Nepal is facing its worst unrest in decades. PM Oli resigned after deadly protests over corruption and censorship. Parliament was torched, prisons breached, and unrest continues to grow without a definitive leadership.

Protests in Nepal have spiralled into the country’s worst unrest in decades, even after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday (September 09). His departure followed three days of violent demonstrations triggered by a short-lived social media ban and fuelled by anger over corruption. At least 22 people have been killed in clashes with police. But instead of easing tensions, Oli’s exit has left a leadership vacuum and raised fresh questions over who is in charge. Also read: Nepal protests: What is happening in Kathmandu? Why did PM Oli resign, and where do 'NepoKids' and Gen Z fit into the unrest? Protesters torch parliament and prisons breached On Tuesday, crowds stormed and set fire to parliament in Kathmandu, with thick smoke rising across the capital. Government buildings and homes of senior politicians were also attacked. Officials confirmed that 900 inmates escaped from two prisons in western Nepal. Inside parliament, jubilant demonstrators smashed windows, spray-painted anti-government slogans and danced around bonfires while waving the national flag. Who is leading Nepal now? Oli’s resignation has left no clear successor, while some ministers have reportedly sought refuge with security forces. Nepalese President Ram Chandra Poudel has accepted Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s resignation but said his cabinet will “continue to run the government until a new Council of Ministers is formed.” “As Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s resignation has already been accepted, there is a need for cooperation of all sides who love the country, people and democracy, to find a solution to the current stalemate,” the president said. The president added that the current cabinet will function under Article 77 (3) of the Constitution until a new one takes charge. Nepal’s army chief, General Ashok Raj Sigdel, warned protesters against looting and arson, saying, “All security institutions, including the Nepal Army, are committed to taking control of the situation.” Troops are now patrolling the streets, though the army has also invited protesters to enter dialogue. It remains uncertain who the protesters’ representatives would be, since the movement has no clear leadership and grew out of online calls to action. The only mainstream political figure openly backing the protesters so far is Kathmandu’s mayor, Balen Shah. What are the protesters demanding? The demonstrations began as a backlash to the government’s sudden ban on social media, which was lifted on Monday. However, the anger has since evolved into a broader anti-corruption movement. Protesters, many of them students, argue the ban was an attack on free speech and accuse politicians of corruption. Their chants now focus on demanding accountability and an end to what they call “corrupt practices”. One of the defining features of the unrest has been the viral slogans #NepoBaby and #NepoKids, which have flooded TikTok and Instagram. Videos comparing the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ families, luxury cars, foreign trips and designer clothes, with the struggles of ordinary Nepalis. Protesters say these families thrive on privilege and public money, while many young people face unemployment and migration abroad.

Nepal is facing its worst unrest in decades. PM Oli resigned after deadly protests over corruption and censorship. Parliament was torched, prisons breached, and unrest continues to grow without a definitive leadership.

'Parliament burned, Oli out': What’s next for Nepal after deadly protests force PM to resign? Who’s calling the shots now?

Nepal was rocked by violent protests this week that left at least 19 people dead after the government blocked major social media platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube. The ban, which authorities said was aimed at making platforms “responsible and accountable,” was widely seen by young Nepalis as an attempt to silence criticism. Demonstrators, many of them students in uniforms, marched through Kathmandu demanding that the government lift restrictions. The unrest escalated after police opened fire on protesters, forcing the government to backtrack and restore access to social media.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nepal-protests-kathmandu-airport-shut-amid-unrest-flights-from-delhi-mumbai-halted-here-s-what-the-indian-government-said-in-its-advisory-1757410522418">Nepal protests: Kathmandu airport shut amid unrest; flights from Delhi, Mumbai halted - Here's what the Indian government said in its advisory</a>Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, stepped down from his position on Tuesday (September 09) following intense nationwide protests against corruption. After mounting pressure and public anger, the government reversed the social media ban on Monday. However, the move came too late to ease tensions.In his resignation letter addressed to President Ramchandra Paudel, Oli said, "In view of the adverse situation in the country, I have resigned effective today to facilitate the solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution."<h2>What does ‘NepoKids’ mean in Nepal?</h2>While the protests began over censorship, they quickly merged with a much deeper frustration among the youth, anger at political privilege and corruption. In the days before the protests, hashtags such as #NepoKids, #NepoBaby, and #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal trended across TikTok and Reddit. Borrowed from the global debate around “nepo babies” in entertainment, the phrase took on a sharper meaning in Nepal’s political context.Videos and posts questioned whether the children of leaders enjoy power and wealth because of family connections rather than merit. One placard summed up the anger,“The leaders’ children return from abroad with Gucci bags, the people’s children in coffins.”Nepal’s youth unemployment is around 19.2% for those aged 15–29, driving many to risky jobs abroad, including as mercenaries in the Ukraine–Russia war. Against this backdrop, the extravagant lifestyles of politicians’ children became a lightning rod for resentment.Protesters accused families of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ of benefiting from corrupt wealth. The anger at so-called “nepo kids” merged with the fight for free expression, making the movement both a digital and street-level rebellion.<h2>Government under pressure</h2>The protests forced swift political fallout. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned during an emergency Cabinet meeting, while Prime Minister Oli promised to investigate the crackdown and provide relief for victims’ families. Following intense criticism, Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung confirmed the ban was being lifted, “We have withdrawn the shutdown of social media. They are working now.”&nbsp;

At least 19 died in Nepal after protests erupted over a social media ban. Youth-led unrest forced the government to lift restrictions, but tensions persisted, prompting Prime Minister Oli to resign.

Nepal was rocked by violent protests this week that left at least 19 people dead after the government blocked major social media platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube. The ban, which authorities said was aimed at making platforms “responsible and accountable,” was widely seen by young Nepalis as an attempt to silence criticism. Demonstrators, many of them students in uniforms, marched through Kathmandu demanding that the government lift restrictions. The unrest escalated after police opened fire on protesters, forcing the government to backtrack and restore access to social media. Also read: Nepal protests: Kathmandu airport shut amid unrest; flights from Delhi, Mumbai halted - Here's what the Indian government said in its advisory Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, stepped down from his position on Tuesday (September 09) following intense nationwide protests against corruption. After mounting pressure and public anger, the government reversed the social media ban on Monday. However, the move came too late to ease tensions. In his resignation letter addressed to President Ramchandra Paudel, Oli said, "In view of the adverse situation in the country, I have resigned effective today to facilitate the solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution." What does ‘NepoKids’ mean in Nepal? While the protests began over censorship, they quickly merged with a much deeper frustration among the youth, anger at political privilege and corruption. In the days before the protests, hashtags such as #NepoKids, #NepoBaby, and #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal trended across TikTok and Reddit. Borrowed from the global debate around “nepo babies” in entertainment, the phrase took on a sharper meaning in Nepal’s political context. Videos and posts questioned whether the children of leaders enjoy power and wealth because of family connections rather than merit. One placard summed up the anger,“The leaders’ children return from abroad with Gucci bags, the people’s children in coffins.” Nepal’s youth unemployment is around 19.2% for those aged 15–29, driving many to risky jobs abroad, including as mercenaries in the Ukraine–Russia war. Against this backdrop, the extravagant lifestyles of politicians’ children became a lightning rod for resentment. Protesters accused families of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ of benefiting from corrupt wealth. The anger at so-called “nepo kids” merged with the fight for free expression, making the movement both a digital and street-level rebellion. Government under pressure The protests forced swift political fallout. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned during an emergency Cabinet meeting, while Prime Minister Oli promised to investigate the crackdown and provide relief for victims’ families. Following intense criticism, Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung confirmed the ban was being lifted, “We have withdrawn the shutdown of social media. They are working now.”

At least 19 died in Nepal after protests erupted over a social media ban. Youth-led unrest forced the government to lift restrictions, but tensions persisted, prompting Prime Minister Oli to resign.

Nepal protests: What is happening in Kathmandu? Why did PM Oli resign, and where do 'NepoKids' and Gen Z fit into the unrest?

Motihari-Amlekhganj oil pipeline: India, Nepal energy diplomacy underway as China pushes BRI

Nepalese opposition lawmakers filed a no-confidence motion today against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli after former rebel Maoists quit his coalition, triggering fresh political turmoil in the quake-hit nation. 
 
The former guerrillas announced on Tuesday that they were withdrawing support for Oli`s government, leaving his coalition without a majority. 
 
After Oli refused to resign, opposition lawmakers from the Nepali Congress and the Maoists filed a motion against the embattled premier in parliament, an official told AFP. 
 
&quot;A no-confidence motion against the PM has been registered, 280 members have signed it,&quot; said Parliament spokesman Bharat Gautam. 
 
According to procedure, Oli will now have a week to secure support for a majority government before Parliament hosts discussions and a possible vote on the motion, Gautam said. 
 
Oli`s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) currently holds 175 elected seats in Parliament, far fewer than the 299 needed to win a vote of confidence. 
 
The Maoists joined the government last October, weeks after Nepal adopted a divisive new national constitution. 
 
Cracks began to appear in the coalition two months ago when they threatened to topple Oli. 
 
Oli survived that attempt by drawing up an 11th-hour deal with Maoist chief, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known by his nom-de-guerre Prachanda. 
 
But Dahal later pulled out of the coalition, citing the government`s failure to implement the agreement to withdraw civil war cases from Nepal`s courts and offer amnesties to people accused of abuses during the decade-long Maoist insurgency which ended in 2006.&nbsp; 
 
Since becoming premier, Oli has faced fierce criticism over his handling of protests against the new charter, which triggered a months-long border blockade in southern Nepal by demonstrators from the Madhesi ethnic minority. 
 
More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters, who said the constitution left them politically marginalised.&nbsp; 
 
Kathmandu accused New Delhi of imposing an &quot;unofficial blockade&quot; on the impoverished landlocked nation in support of the Madhesis, who share close cultural and family links with Indians across the border. 
 
The new constitution, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to cement peace and bolster Nepal`s transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability. 
 
But ongoing discussions between the government and protesters over the charter have failed to yield agreement. 
 
(AFP)

According to procedure, he will have a week to secure support before Parliament hosts a possible vote

Nepalese opposition lawmakers filed a no-confidence motion today against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli after former rebel Maoists quit his coalition, triggering fresh political turmoil in the quake-hit nation. The former guerrillas announced on Tuesday that they were withdrawing support for Oli`s government, leaving his coalition without a majority. After Oli refused to resign, opposition lawmakers from the Nepali Congress and the Maoists filed a motion against the embattled premier in parliament, an official told AFP. "A no-confidence motion against the PM has been registered, 280 members have signed it," said Parliament spokesman Bharat Gautam. According to procedure, Oli will now have a week to secure support for a majority government before Parliament hosts discussions and a possible vote on the motion, Gautam said. Oli`s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) currently holds 175 elected seats in Parliament, far fewer than the 299 needed to win a vote of confidence. The Maoists joined the government last October, weeks after Nepal adopted a divisive new national constitution. Cracks began to appear in the coalition two months ago when they threatened to topple Oli. Oli survived that attempt by drawing up an 11th-hour deal with Maoist chief, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known by his nom-de-guerre Prachanda. But Dahal later pulled out of the coalition, citing the government`s failure to implement the agreement to withdraw civil war cases from Nepal`s courts and offer amnesties to people accused of abuses during the decade-long Maoist insurgency which ended in 2006. Since becoming premier, Oli has faced fierce criticism over his handling of protests against the new charter, which triggered a months-long border blockade in southern Nepal by demonstrators from the Madhesi ethnic minority. More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters, who said the constitution left them politically marginalised. Kathmandu accused New Delhi of imposing an "unofficial blockade" on the impoverished landlocked nation in support of the Madhesis, who share close cultural and family links with Indians across the border. The new constitution, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to cement peace and bolster Nepal`s transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability. But ongoing discussions between the government and protesters over the charter have failed to yield agreement. (AFP)

Opposition, Maoists file no-confidence motion against Nepal PM Oli

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From 2001 royal massacre to Gen-Z protests: Nepal’s dark history of political unrest

'Parliament burned, PM Oli out': What’s next for Nepal amid deadly protests?

Nepal protests: Why did PM Oli resign, and where do 'NepoKids' fit into this?

Motihari-Amlekhganj oil pipeline: India, Nepal energy diplomacy underway as China pushes BRI

Opposition, Maoists file no-confidence motion against Nepal PM Oli