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Nepal Gen Z Protest 2025: Nepal plunged into its worst political and social crisis in recent years after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and President Ram Chandra Paudel resigned on Tuesday, following two days of violent youth-led protests that left at least 19 people dead and more than 500 injured. With the country’s top political offices vacant, the Nepal Army has assumed full control of security operations, including at critical installations like the Tribhuvan International Airport and the government secretariat, Singh Durbar.

Army Steps In, Airports and Key Buildings Secured

What began as outrage over the government’s September 4 social media ban soon turned into a broader revolt against corruption, nepotism, and what protesters call the lavish lifestyles of Nepal’s political elite. Gen Z activists accused ministers’ children of flaunting luxury cars and foreign holidays on Instagram while ordinary Nepalis struggled with unemployment and inflation. The Oli government’s attempt to defend the ban by citing “non-compliance with registration laws” backfired. After 19 protesters were killed in police firing, the government hurriedly lifted the ban on Monday night. But Oli’s refusal to take responsibility and his claim that “infiltrating groups” were behind the violence only intensified the anger, forcing his resignation hours later.

The Nepal Army, under the command of General Prabhu Ram Sharma, announced it would take over security operations from 10 pm Tuesday. Within hours, troops were deployed to secure Kathmandu’s main government buildings after demonstrators set fire to offices inside Singh Durbar. The Tribhuvan International Airport was also shut down after mobs breached its outer perimeter. “We appeal to all citizens to maintain peace. The army will ensure the protection of national heritage, institutions, and public safety,” General Sharma said in a televised address. Airlines were forced to suspend operations amid the chaos. Air India canceled four of its six daily flights between New Delhi and Kathmandu, while IndiGo and Nepal Airlines suspended services entirely. Two Indian aircraft returned mid-air after being denied landing clearance due to security threats.

Constitutional Vacuum: What Happens Next?

Since both the President and Prime Minister have resigned, Nepal is left with a constitutional crisis. According to the Constitution, the Council of Ministers would remain in operation until the formation of the new government, while the Vice President temporarily assumes presidential duties. The political parties are likely to hold emergency talks in Parliament, but instability and public outrage raise questions about whether a new government can be established quickly. "The resignations were unavoidable, but the actual task now is to regain trust among the young people. This is a generational uprising, not a customary protest," political expert Shyam Shrestha explained to ANI.

Adding to the mayhem, protesters stormed several prisons, allowing over 1,400 prisoners to escape throughout Mahottari, Pokhara, and Kathmandu. The jailbreaks reflect the security vacuum left by the political meltdown. Mobs also attacked the homes of top leaders. Rabi Laxmi Chitrakar, the wife of former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, died when her house caught fire. Houses of Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Paudel, and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak were destroyed.

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Nepal At A Crossroads

The turmoil has drawn sharp reactions from global capitals. The embassies of Australia, Finland, France, Japan, South Korea, Germany, the UK, and the US issued a joint statement urging restraint and respect for fundamental freedoms. The United Nations Human Rights Office also called for an “independent and transparent probe” into allegations of excessive force by security forces.

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As the dust settles in a nation in shock, one thing is certain, the protests spearheaded by Nepal's Gen Z have changed the political landscape. The youth movement, initiated by censorship and deep-seated resentment against corruption, has laid bare the vulnerability of Nepal's democratic institutions. Whether the political leaders can convert this discontent into transformative reform, or whether the nation will fall into protracted instability under military rule, is yet to be seen. For the moment, the Nepal Army holds sway over the streets, but the fate of the Himalayan republic teeters ominously in the balance.