Gen Z Frustration at Corruption Sparks Nepal’s Worst Unrest in Decades
Soldiers were seen patrolling the streets of Kathmandu on Wednesday, September 10, as Nepal’s capital remained under indefinite curfew, following two days of violent anti-corruption protests that forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign, Reuters reports.
Deadly Clashes After Social Media Ban
The unrest, the worst in decades for the Himalayan nation, was triggered by a social media ban announced last week and later withdrawn after 19 people were killed on September 8, when police used tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators.
«We are trying to normalise the situation first,» army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet said. «We are committed to protecting people’s lives and property.»
No new demonstrations were reported in the capital.
Government Buildings Set Ablaze
On September 9, government buildings including the supreme court, parliament, several ministers’ homes and Oli’s private residence were set ablaze before calm returned with the prime minister’s resignation.
«There are no protesters here,» said Ram Kumar Shrestha, a resident of Maharajgunj. «Only a few people are walking in the street. It is peaceful here.»
Reports suggested preparations for talks between authorities and protesters, though no details were available.
Youth Frustration Fuels Protests
The protests have been driven largely by young people, Gen Z, angered at corruption and limited job opportunities. Frustration has grown for years in a country long beset by political and economic instability since the abolition of its monarchy in 2008.
They had been posting on social media about the «luxurious lives of the families and children of corrupt politicians and civil servants» until the government clamped down on the platforms. This was one of the driving forces of the frustration of the young generation.
Millions of young Nepalis have sought work abroad in construction and service industries, sending money back home to support their families. Social media served as the platform to see and compare one’s own life to the life of the «children of corrupt politicians».
In his resignation letter to President Ramchandra Paudel, Oli wrote:
«In view of the adverse situation in the country, I have resigned effective today to facilitate the solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution.»
Regional Concern and Calls for Calm
Nepal’s crisis has drawn close attention from its neighbours. India’s security cabinet held urgent talks on Tuesday evening, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi later appealed for calm. «Nepal’s stability, peace and prosperity are of utmost importance,» he posted on X.
«I humbly appeal to all my brothers and sisters in Nepal to maintain peace and order.»
