Nepal has entered a defining moment in its young democratic history.

On September 8, 2025, thousands of Gen Z protesters surged through the streets of Kathmandu and other cities, demanding accountability over entrenched corruption and opposing the government's abrupt ban on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Snapchat.

The protests quickly escalated, as security forces responded with lethal force, leaving at least 19 dead and hundreds injured. By September 9, the pressure proved insurmountable: Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli announced his resignation, plunging the country into fresh political uncertainty.

The protests, widely dubbed the "Gen Z protests," mark a new era of civic activism in Nepal. Unlike previous movements dominated by older political factions or labor groups, these demonstrations are powered by digitally connected youth leveraging social media to expose the excesses of the political elite.

Campaigns such as "Nepo Kid" spotlighted the lifestyles of politicians' families, amplifying public resentment over persistent corruption and nepotism. Protest signs demanded an end to oligarchic control, with slogans including "KP, you thief, leave the country" and "Nepal belongs to us, not the corrupt."

The government's response, which involved live ammunition, rubber bullets, water cannons, and tear gas, drew widespread condemnation. Videos circulated on social media, showing protesters shot in the head and chest, and reports emerged of curfews being imposed in major districts, including Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Pokhara, Butwal, and Jhapa.

Even as Prime Minister Oli attempted to assert authority, the protests gained momentum, highlighting both the futility of repression and the transformative power of collective citizen action.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned late Monday, citing moral responsibility, and the subsequent resignation of Oli on Tuesday confirmed that the protests had achieved a historic political breakthrough.

Witnesses reported that protesters defied curfews, set fire to tyres and municipal offices, and even targeted the homes of politicians. The intensity of civic mobilization not only forced political resignations but also signaled a shift in the balance of power between the governed and the governing in South Asia.