Nepal’s Parliament set ablaze as PM Oli resigns amid deadly Gen Z-Led protests

Nepal descended into chaos on Tuesday as protesters set parliament on fire and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned, marking a dramatic escalation of a youth-driven protest movement sparked by a controversial social media ban.

At least 19 people were killed during Monday’s rallies in what became one of the country’s deadliest crackdowns in years, fuelling anger that spilled into the streets of Kathmandu and beyond. Demonstrators, many waving national flags, torched government buildings and brandished automatic rifles, while the military warned against “activities that could lead the country into unrest and instability.”

The protests began Monday, calling for an end to corruption and the government’s social media ban. Amnesty International reported that police used live ammunition against demonstrators. Although authorities reinstated access to Facebook, YouTube, and X by Tuesday, rallies intensified, spreading across the nation.

“The Nepal government has fallen, the youth have won the protest,” declared protest leader Sudan Gurung in a triumphant Instagram post after the ban was lifted.

Prime Minister Oli’s house was also attacked and set ablaze by mobs, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Smoke blanketed Kathmandu as protesters breached parliament and torched its main building, according to Parliament Secretariat spokesman Ekram Giri. President Ramchandra Paudel, whose offices were also targeted, urged all sides to “exercise restraint” to avoid further chaos, a sentiment echoed by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN rights chief Volker Turk.

International media group RSF confirmed the Kantipur Media Group headquarters was on fire, appealing to protesters not to harm journalists. Meanwhile, Kathmandu’s airport remained open, though flights were cancelled due to heavy smoke.

Oli, a four-time prime minister and veteran political figure, resigned to “pave the way for a political solution.” His departure adds uncertainty to a nation still grappling with a history of civil war, monarchy abolition in 2008, and frequent political instability. Experts are now calling for a caretaker government led by trusted figures to restore calm.

The protests have been dubbed a “Gen Z movement,” with Kathmandu’s mayor, 35-year-old Balendra Shah, urging demonstrators to show restraint. “Your generation must take the lead in running the country. Be ready!” he wrote on Facebook.

Young Nepalis, who make up 43% of the population, are voicing long-simmering frustrations over corruption, unemployment, and economic stagnation, with GDP per capita at just $1,447. The government’s attempt to restrict 26 unregistered social media platforms, while leaving TikTok active, only intensified anger, as viral videos highlighted inequality between elites and ordinary citizens.

“This frustration has been building for over two decades,” said a 26-year-old protester. “What you see now is just a spark ignited by social media.”