Social media ban sparks deadly unrest and leadership shake-up in Nepal

A wide social media ban fired the mass youth protests in Nepal, dozens of died, thousands of people were injured, and the country’s leadership in turmoil Anny Chau.

Anti -government Protests exploded On September 8, 2025, following the ban on social media by the government in Nepal. Protesters express the government’s concerns about corruption and economic inequality.

Despite the prime minister’s resignation, public discontent remain high. Sushila Karki He was appointed as a temporary prime minister on 12 September 2025.

Protests

Anger against the government has been building for a while. The younger generation was a significant disappointment due to limited economic opportunities. Accordingly World bankThe unemployment rate for Nepal young people aged 15-24 was 20.8 percent in 2024, which was two 0.2 times higher than Australia.

Meanwhile, “Nepo Kids drew Hashtag online and demonstrated the generous lifestyle of the children of Nepal government officials. The messages show luxury cars, expensive clothes and special holiday places, while Nepal’s average monthly salary is only about $ 860. World salaries. This trend attracted millions of views and angry of corruption.

On September 9, 2025, the protests were fired when he decided to ban 26 social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and Youtube. The Nepal government claimed that the ban was due to the fact that companies could not register to the government before the deadline.

The government also justified as a way to cope with fake news, hate speech and online fraud. However, the proposed law was criticized as a restriction on freedom of expression.

The young Nepali began to go out on the street and fight against the government.

“Gen Z was disappointed about corrupt governance and requested a change for the country” He said Kristina Bishowarma, a Nepalli student who is currently studying in the UK and continues to support the movement from a distance.

What happened during the protest

On September 8, thousands of students and genes activists in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, opposed prohibitions, corruption and bad management.

Protesters gathered near the parliament and blocked highways. Police, as the police approached the parliament, to distribute protesters live tours, water balls and tear gas fired the events when the events returned. In the middle of the chaos, some protesters destroyed a door in Parliament and set fire.

When 19 people were killed that day, the situation intensified. Although the ban on social media was removed late that night, it had little influence on unrest.

On September 9, the demonstrations turned into uprising.

The protesters challenged the curfew, threw them into parliament and set fire. Singha DurbarA great government complex serving as Nepal’s central data center. The Supreme Court also faced the storm and led to an uncertain postponement of all waiting cases.

The Presidential Palace, the Prime Minister’s official residence and several politicians’ houses were burned. Shared videos on social media showed that protesters attacked the Nepali Congress Party Leader Sher Bahadur Deuba And Arzu Rana DeubaExisting Foreign Minister, in their homes.

Hilton Hotel, the longest building in Kathmandu, was set on fire and left significant damage. The hotel was opened in July 2024. The Tribhuvan International Airport was also temporarily closed until Wednesday.

It spread beyond Kaos Kathmandu. The prisoners took advantage of the protest and tried to escape; During the protest, at least 13,000 prisoners reportedly fled Gaols in all 77 districts.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that at least 72 people have been killed in clashes since September 8 and that they have been wounded over 2,113. The Nepal police also reported the deaths of three officers.

Gen Z organizers stressed that their basic movements called for peaceful protests. “Killing people, destroying things, destroying, looting – this is not our generation,” said activist Tanuja Pandey India Times.

Compatible with Bishowarma Pandy’s expression:

Our plan was to protest our rights peacefully and receive a message to the government in the hope that they will come to their senses.

It is really sad that violence is only involved to meet the message.

In a video message, the nepal army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel He called on protesters to stop demonstrations to prevent more life and loss of life and to establish dialogue.

The curfew throughout the country was implemented until Thursday morning. The army, which seized the control of Kathmandu and other cities, warned that violence and vandalism would be punished.

What’s next after the protest

Prime minister Khadga Prasad Oli On September 9, the office announced his resignation after the protesters made storms. While the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Health also resigned, the Minister of House RAMESH LEKHAK After violence, he resigned on September 8th.

Trunk stated Before the resignation of the government “Not negative against the demands brought to the agenda by gene production” And he expressed deep sorrow on the events.

Oli’s resignation paralyzed the political system. Minister, Ram Chandra PoudelHe accepted his resignation and appointed Oli to rule the government until a new government was established. However, it was unclear where Oli was.

Bishowarma said:

“After the resignation, we need to choose a new leader for our country, and it needs to be done very wisely to fulfill our dreams of creating a new nepal.”

President applied to the protesters for a peaceful decision and young protesters “Come to talk”.

Student leaders reinforced a new list of demands and discussed a temporary leader to rule the country.

On September 12, Sushila Carki was appointed as a temporary prime minister by Gen Z demonstrators, pointing to a historical step as the first female prime minister in Nepal.

Carki, a former chief justice, was one of the two judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals, a first for Nepal as a first for Nepal in 2012, who tried to oppose the graft culture.

Bishowarma said:

“We want a good leader for our country, no more corruption, we want a quick development with facilities, infrastructure, transportation network and many opportunities for the people in the country.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsdcae9rqp0

Anny Chau is currently a student journalist from Hong Kong with a degree of journalism in Australia.

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