Nepal has been rocked by its largest protests in decades after the government announced a ban on social media platforms including Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), sparking massive youth-led demonstrations.
The unrest quickly escalated beyond opposition to the internet blackout, turning into a broader movement against long-standing corruption, entrenched political elites, and an opaque political system, dubbed the “Gen Z protests.” Official figures show that at least 72 people have been killed so far, with the turmoil still ongoing.
Mounting public pressure forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign. On September 12, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as interim prime minister, making her the first female prime minister in Nepal’s history. Her appointment is especially controversial because it did not emerge from traditional party negotiations but was instead the result of a vote organised by young people via the messaging app Discord.
Karki pledged to prioritise responsible governance and institutional reform as the core tasks of the transitional government. She also announced compensation of 1 million Nepali rupees to each family of those killed in the unrest, along with free medical treatment for the injured.
A new parliamentary election has been scheduled for March 5 next year.