TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Prime Minister of Nepal, Khadga Prasad Oli Sharma, resigned on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, following widespread protests over a social media ban and government corruption.
In his resignation letter to the president, Oli stated, "I have resigned from the post of prime minister with effect from today... in order to take further steps towards a political solution and resolution of the problems," according to France24.
The resignation comes a day after protests turned deadly, leaving 19 people dead. The unrest was triggered by the social media ban amid viral reports of corruption within the government.
Earlier on Tuesday, Oli had convened a meeting with all political parties, stressing that violence harms the nation. "Violence is not the way. We need to find a peaceful way out through dialogue," Oli said, as quoted from The Economic Times.
Despite this call, public anger showed no signs of abating. Protesters gathered in front of the parliament and other parts of Kathmandu, opposing the indefinite curfew imposed by authorities.
Oli’s government lifted the social media ban after violent clashes on Monday resulted in 19 deaths and over 100 injuries, when police used tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators attempting to storm parliament.
On Tuesday morning, protesters set fire to the homes of several prominent political leaders. Local media reported that some ministers were rescued by military helicopters.
Among the residences attacked was that of Nepal's Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who also resigned, taking responsibility for the deaths, including that of an 8-year-old child.
Reports and videos shared on social media captured protesters targeting the homes of influential leaders in and around Kathmandu. In response, authorities imposed a curfew in the capital and other cities, and schools in Kathmandu were closed.
Official’s Child Flaunting Wealth Goes Viral
Oli, 73, began his fourth term last year after the Communist Party formed a coalition with Nepal’s left-center Congress in a parliament often marked by turmoil.
Public discontent has been fueled by political instability, corruption, and slow economic development in the Himalayan nation of 30 million.
Government statistics indicate that nearly 43 percent of the population is aged 15-40, with unemployment around 10 percent and a GDP per capita of just US$1,447, according to the World Bank.
Nepal became a federal republic in 2008 after a decade-long civil war and a peace agreement that integrated the Maoists into government and abolished the monarchy.
Since then, frequent prime minister turnovers and political horse-trading have reinforced perceptions that leaders are disconnected from citizens’ struggles.
The current unrest was amplified by a viral TikTok video contrasting the hardships of ordinary Nepalis with the extravagant lifestyles of politicians’ children, who flaunted luxury items and expensive vacations.
The protests are considered the worst in decades in Nepal, which has long grappled with political instability and economic uncertainty since the monarchy’s abolition.
Protesters set tires ablaze on roadways, pelted police with stones, and chased them through narrow streets, while bystanders recorded the clashes as thick black smoke rose into the sky.
Hundreds of demonstrators from cities near the India-Nepal border marched toward Kathmandu to join the protests.
"We are still standing here for our future ... We want this country corruption-free so that everyone can easily access education, hospitals, medical (facilities) ... and for a bright future," said protester Robin Sreshtha.
Smoke from fires surrounding Kathmandu’s main international airport disrupted visibility, forcing the closure of arrivals from the southern side, said flight authority official Gyanendra Bhul.
Protests, which spread to other cities, have been described as a "protest by Gen Z," driven by frustration over the government’s failure to address corruption and improve economic opportunities for young people.
Editor’s Choice: Nepal Home Minister Resigns After 19 Killed in Gen Z Protests
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
