KATHMANDU — On September 8, thousands of Gen Z protesters took to the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, and other cities to demand accountability over corruption allegations against Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government and to oppose the recent ban on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Snapchat.
Instead of responding to these concerns, the government resorted to force. Clashes between protesters and security forces left at least 19 dead and hundreds injured. In the wake of the violence, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned, citing moral responsibility, during an emergency Cabinet meeting.
The Rise of Gen Z Activism
Nepal’s younger generation is frustrated with repeated episodes of political instability that somehow never manage to remove the country’s entrenched leadership. Unlike previous movements, this protest is driven by social media-savvy Gen Z activists who use Instagram and TikTok to expose the wealth and corruption of politicians’ families, highlighting inequality in a country where over 20 percent of people still live in poverty.
The demonstrations have spread nationwide, with cities such as Biratnagar, Butwal, Pokhara, Jhapa, Damak, and Itahari witnessing intense confrontations with security forces. Protesters carried signs with slogans such as: “KP, you thief, leave the country,” “No More Nepo Babies,” “Step down Oli-Prachanda-Deuba” (a reference to the three party leaders who have cycled through the prime minister’s office for a decade), “Enough is Enough,” “Stop corruption,” and “Nepal belongs to us, not the corrupt.”
Young Nepalis taking part in the protest in Kathmandu on Sep. 8, 2025. Photo by Ritesh Panthee.
The Gen Z protest on Monday garnered support from numerous prominent figures and actors. The situation in Kathmandu escalated when protesters breached the restricted zone and entered the parliamentary premises, prompting the government to demonstrate its authority.
In Itahari, young protesters set fire to the Itahari Sub-Metropolitan Office in Sunsari District. District Administration Offices in some of the main districts had imposed curfews in major city areas, fearing more violent clashes.
As a reporter, I saw gross human rights violations by the state.
Some protesters condemned what they called the government’s heavy-handed response. “Kathmandu is filled with thousands of security personnel, yet they chose to use force against peaceful demonstrators. Our constitutional right to free expression is being trampled, and the international community must hold the Nepali government accountable,” one protester told The Diplomat.
The UNHRC, U.N. Nepal, Amnesty International, and the governments of the United States, England, Finland, Australia, and France all condemned the use of lethal force by the government.
Young Nepalis taking part in the protest in Kathmandu on Sep. 8, 2025. Photo by Ritesh Panthee.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) urged restraint after the killing of Gen Z protesters. The commission reminded the government that both Nepal’s Constitution and international law protect the right to peaceful protest. It described the recent turn to vandalism and the heavy-handed response by security forces as deeply concerning. At the same time, it appealed to demonstrators to keep their protests orderly and non-violent.
Yet critics argue that Nepal’s institutions – including the NHRC – are too weak to hold the government accountable. Since its establishment in 2000, the NHRC has seen only 15 percent of its recommendations implemented. Oli’s decision to boycott the commission’s anniversary this year further raised doubts about his administration’s commitment to human rights.
Despite having a National Human Rights Commission, the Nepali government has shown reluctance to actually strengthen this body. Successive governments have failed to implement NHRC recommendations, undermining its autonomy in accordance with the Paris Principles of 1993, and resisting efforts to adhere to international standards for human rights and transitional justice.
Now the government’s harsh treatment of protesters has raised concerns that warrant investigation by international human rights organizations.
Political Instability, Public Disillusionment
Nepal has had 13 governments since the monarchy was abolished in 2008. Since the adoption of Nepal’s 2015 Constitution, the country has seen eight different governments, but each time with a familiar face at the top. Power has repeatedly shifted between just three leaders: K.P. Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML), Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the CPN-Maoist Center, and Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress (NC).
The CPN-UML and the NC, Nepal’s two biggest political parties, struck a deal on July 1, 2024, to form a new government led by Oli. Under the agreement, which toppled Dahal’s government, Oli and Deuba will alternate in office, each serving 18 months as prime minister until the next general election in 2027.
As the Oli-led government marked its first year in office, however, public sentiment has increasingly shifted toward feelings of hopelessness and dissatisfaction. Despite the coalition’s apparent stability, the government has struggled to implement reforms within the bureaucracy, where red tape is widespread. This has led to delays in public services and growing public discontent due to corruption. Many Nepalis are voting with their feet: on average, more than 2,000 people leave Nepal every single day to find better-paying work abroad.
When the alliance was initially formed, its leaders promised to introduce constitutional amendments, yet progress in this area has been minimal. This shortcoming has drawn sharp criticism from both the opposition and the general public.
Young protesters in Nepal hold up anti-corruption signs in Kathmandu, Sep. 8, 2025. Photo by Ritesh Panthee.
In recent years, various protests have take place in Kathmandu involving different groups, and the Gen Z protests are not the first to meet a heavy state response. Earlier this year, teachers striking for educational reform were beaten and detained, leaving dozens injured. Pro-monarchy demonstrators have also accused police of disproportionate force, with petitions sent to the United Nations alleging rights violations.
Notably, on March 28, a demonstration took place demanding the restoration of the monarchy and the appointment of the king as the head of state. This rally resulted in violent clashes between security forces and protesters, leading to the tragic deaths of two individuals, including a journalist, as well as significant economic damage. This incident reflects the growing frustration among the populace with the current system.
All this suggests that human rights in Nepal are under severe threat. Analysts warn that repeated crackdowns could erode Nepal’s fragile democratic gains. Comparisons are being drawn to the 2006 People’s Movement, when 19 protesters died in 19 days of nationwide demonstrations – numbers now matched in a single day under Oli’s leadership.
A Turning Point for Nepal
For many young Nepalis, the September 8 protests symbolize more than opposition to censorship. They represent a generational demand for accountability in a political system dominated by aging leaders. Social media, even under the new restrictions, has become a powerful tool for mobilization and exposing inequality.
Whether the government chooses dialogue or further repression will shape Nepal’s immediate trajectory. International human rights bodies are likely to increase scrutiny, while Gen Z activists appear unwilling to back down.
“Nepal’s youth are telling their leaders that the old ways no longer work,” one observer noted. “Ignoring them could risk not just more unrest, but the very legitimacy of the political order.”