Nepal just witnessed one of the biggest political uprisings in its recent history, led by the very youth generation that critics often dismiss as “good-for-nothing.” These young people forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign, with protests spiraling into violence, fires, and even tragic deaths.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Intro
On 8th September 2025, Kathmandu’s streets flooded with thousands of protesters, mostly young students in school uniforms and college dress. The NGO Hami Nepal organized the march from Maitighar Mandala, a symbolic monument, towards parliament.
It began peacefully, but soon the government deployed heavy police forces. Water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets were fired. Then something shocking happened — the police opened live fire. At least 19 protesters were killed, including a 12-year-old boy, and more than 400 injured.
From that moment, the fire of anger spread across Nepal, from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Butwal, Bharatpur, and Damak. The government even tried curfew at 3:30 pm, but nothing could stop the momentum.
So, what really caused this massive uprising? Was it just the social media ban? The answer is — no. The roots run deeper: corruption, unemployment, misgovernance, and nepotism.
Social Media Ban
In November 2023, Nepal’s Ministry of Communication ordered social media companies to register locally and set up offices in the country, citing the need to fight hate speech, fake news, and fraud. Only a few complied — the biggest being TikTok from China.
By August 2025, the Supreme Court gave the government authority to ban unregistered platforms. On 3rd September 2025, the deadline passed, and 26 platforms were banned, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Snapchat, and Twitter.
The only major survivor? TikTok.
Protesters accused the government of doing this to silence criticism and control free speech. Viral videos exposing corruption, ministers’ children flaunting luxury lifestyles, and hashtags like #NepoKids and #NepoBabies had already put leaders under fire.
When bans came, TikTok was flooded with videos comparing the struggles of ordinary Nepalis to the lavish lives of politicians’ children.
Unemployment & Migration
Unemployment is another ticking bomb. In 2024, Nepal’s youth unemployment rate hit 20.82% — meaning 1 in 5 young people jobless. Job creation is minimal, forcing thousands to migrate abroad.
The situation is so dire that by February 2024, over 15,000 Nepalis joined the Russian military, fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war just for money. Many have died at the frontlines. Why? Because Russia offers up to $4000 per month, nearly 5 lakh Nepali rupees, an impossible sum back home.
Meanwhile, politicians’ kids flaunted Gucci bags, luxury cars, and foreign trips online. This contrast fueled explosive anger. One protest poster said:
“Politicians’ children return from abroad with Gucci bags. Our children return in coffins.”
Corruption & Misgovernance
Nepal’s youth are fed up with the 70+ aged leaders who rotate power among themselves like musical chairs. Since Nepal became a republic in 2008, the government has changed 13 times in 17 years.
The same faces keep returning: KP Sharma Oli, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Sher Bahadur Deuba. Corruption scandals, nepotism, and zero accountability made people feel democracy is failing.
In March 2025, another protest even demanded Nepal return to monarchy, saying the “Republic experiment has failed.”
The Spark & the Fire
So, when the government banned social media, it wasn’t just about losing Instagram or YouTube. It was the final spark in a dry forest of anger.
The youth saw bans as dictatorship, an attack on free speech, and an attempt to hide corruption. Combined with unemployment, inequality, and politicians’ kids living in luxury, the protests turned into a mass uprising — big enough to topple the government.
Outro
Nepal’s protests in September 2025 will be remembered as a turning point — not only for forcing a Prime Minister to resign but also for showing that the so-called “lazy” generation can become the strongest voice for change.
What comes next for Nepal — stronger democracy, or a return to monarchy — still remains an open question.