Nepal is gripped by bloody protests after a social media ban: 22 people killed, hundreds injured

Massive protests have erupted in Nepal after the government banned social media, quickly escalating into violent riots. Police opened fire on demonstrators in the capital Kathmandu, killing more than 20 people and injuring hundreds. Youth are demanding an end to corruption and censorship, while the country’s Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, has announced his resignation, triggering a deep political crisis.

This is reported by The New York Times .

Protests in Nepal began after the government decided to block 26 social platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X. The formal reason given by the authorities was the fight against fake news and hate speech, but this was perceived by society as an attack on freedom of speech and an attempt at censorship.

For a country where a large part of the population works abroad and maintains contact with families through social media, the lockdown was a particularly painful blow.

The anger of young people, already suffering from high unemployment and a lack of prospects, quickly spilled over into the streets. The movement was dubbed the “Gen Z protest” — as the generation aged 13–28 was its main driving force.

An additional catalyst was the issue of corruption and social injustice. Viral posts about the so-called “Nepo Kids” – children of politicians who demonstrate a luxurious life – sparked a wave of anger, contrasting them with the economic problems of ordinary Nepalis.

The biggest unrest took place in the capital, Kathmandu. Thousands of students and schoolchildren marched to parliament despite a curfew. Protesters set fire to police stations, cars, government offices, and even an ambulance.

Police initially used tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons. However, after the crowd attacked police stations, law enforcement officers opened fire with live ammunition.

Two young people were killed in the Kalimati district. The total number of victims reached 22 people, mostly young people. According to medical reports, more than 500 people were injured, including both protesters and security forces.

According to local media reports, the mob also set fire to the Supreme Court, Parliament buildings, and the offices of the leading political parties – the Communist Party of Nepal and the Nepali Congress.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who had led the government since 2024 and represented the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), announced his resignation on September 9. In a letter posted on social media by his adviser, he explained the decision by the “emergency and tragedy that has gripped the country.”

Earlier, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, as well as the ministers of agriculture, water resources and health, resigned.

Despite the government’s resignation, demonstrators continued their protests. The crowd called for a complete overhaul of the political system, which young people say is mired in corruption and “family clans.”

The resignation of the prime minister and several ministers has left the country without an effective government. Who will lead Nepal at this crucial moment is still unknown. Analysts note that even if social networks have been unblocked, this has not calmed the protesters. Young people are demanding systemic changes, the fight against corruption and the creation of new opportunities for life in the country.

Given the scale of the unrest, observers are calling these protests the most serious for Nepal since the 1996–2006 civil war.

At the same time, the UN and Amnesty International strongly condemned the use of lethal force against protesters.

“The use of live ammunition against people who do not pose a mortal threat is a gross violation of international law,” the human rights activists stressed.

They called for an independent and transparent investigation into the incidents, as well as for refraining from further repression against civil society.

It is worth adding that the paralysis of the country was manifested in the closure of the main Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu due to smoke and fires, as a result of which all flights had to be redirected to neighboring countries. Officials were evacuated from government buildings by helicopters. A strict curfew was imposed in the capital, but crowds continue to take to the streets. Protesters set fire to the homes of several former prime ministers, including the residences of Shera Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Nepal, a country of about 30 million people, has suffered from decades of political instability and has seen more than a dozen changes of government since the monarchy was abolished in 2008.

According to official figures, the unemployment rate was 12.6% in 2024, but it is much higher among young people. Thousands of Nepalese leave each year to work in India, the Gulf countries or Malaysia. According to the World Bank, more than 26% of Nepal’s GDP is generated by remittances from migrant workers.

Corruption remains a major problem. Investigations have repeatedly uncovered the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars, including during the construction of infrastructure projects, but the perpetrators have rarely been punished.

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