Nepal Gen Z protests: As KP Sharma Oli resigns, ex-PM, top leaders' houses burned - here are the main reasons why the youth hit the streets

Nepal Gen Z protests hit global headlines after short-lived ban on Facebook, X, YouTube, WhatsApp and other social media platforms evoked sharp reactions from youths of the Himalayan country. However, reports are claiming that massive corruption and Nepo kids' exorbitant lifestyle have driven thousands of young people angry. As the protests intensified, Nepal's Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli or KP Oli said he was stepping down immediately. A curfew was imposed in the capital and other cities, and schools in Kathmandu were closed — but several protests continued in the capital despite the measures. On Tuesday, local media and videos shared on social media showed protesters attacking the residences of the top political leaders in and around the capital of Kathmandu. Oli's private home was among those set on fire, as were those of the president, home minister and the leader of the country's largest party, Nepali Congress, which is part of the governing coalition. Oli's family was at the official residence at the time. The home of the leader of the opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) was also set ablaze.

Nepal Protests, Katmandu Airport Shut

Demonstrations led by young people angry about the blocking of several social media sites gripped the country’s capital a day earlier, and police opened fired on the crowds, killing 19 people.


The ban was lifted on Tuesday, but the protests continued, with demonstrators setting fire to the homes of some of Nepal’s top leaders and the parliament building. The airport in the capital of Katmandu was shut, and army helicopters ferried some ministers to safe places.

Facebook, X, YouTube Back Online

The demonstrations — called the protest of Gen Z — began after the government blocked platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube, saying the companies had failed to register and submit to government oversight.

But even after the sites came back online, the rallies continued, fueled by anger over the deaths of protesters at the hands of police and growing frustration with the political elite in the nation wedged between China and India.

Nepal Political Elite

In particular, many young people are angry that the children of political leaders — so-called Nepo Kids — seem to enjoy luxurious lifestyles and numerous advantages while most youth struggle to find work. With youth unemployment running at 20% last year, according to the World Bank, the government estimates that more than 2,000 young people leave the country every day to seek work in the Middle East or southeast Asia.

FAQs

Q1. Who was Nepal's Prime Minister?
A1. Nepal's Prime Minister was Khadga Prasad Oli or KP Oli.

Q2. What do we know about Nepal's social media regulations?
A2. Nepal's government pursues a broader attempt to regulate social media with a bill aimed at ensuring the platforms are “properly managed, responsible and accountable.” The proposal has been widely criticized as a tool for censorship and for punishing government opponents who voice their protests online. The bill would require companies to appoint a liaison office or a point of contact in the country. Rights groups have called it an attempt by the government to curb freedom of expression and fundamental rights. The registration requirement applied to about two dozen social networks widely used in Nepal.