Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday as violent anti-corruption demonstrations swept across the country, leaving at least 19 people dead and more than 100 injured, officials and witnesses said.
Oli’s aide, Prakash Silwal, confirmed the resignation, saying the embattled leader stepped down after mounting pressure from protesters and opposition parties. The move has thrown the Himalayan nation into fresh political uncertainty at a time of worsening unrest.
The crisis was sparked after Oli’s government imposed a ban on social media platforms last week, a decision that ignited public outrage. Protests escalated on Monday when demonstrators tried to storm parliament in Kathmandu, prompting security forces to fire tear gas and rubber bullets. The ban was later lifted, but only after widespread violence had erupted.
On Tuesday morning, Oli convened a meeting of political parties, urging dialogue and warning that “violence is not in the interest of the nation.” However, the appeal failed to quell the anger of thousands of mostly young protesters who defied an indefinite curfew in Kathmandu.
Demonstrators torched tyres, hurled stones at police in riot gear, and set fire to the homes of several politicians, according to local media.
The unrest has spread beyond the capital, with marchers from towns along the India-Nepal border heading toward Kathmandu to join the protests. Aviation authorities temporarily halted flights arriving from the south due to heavy smoke near the capital’s airport caused by burning roadblocks.
Organisers have described the movement as a “Gen Z protest,” reflecting deep frustration among Nepal’s youth over corruption, poor governance, and limited economic opportunities. “We want this country corruption-free so that everyone can access education and healthcare for a brighter future,” said protester Robin Sreshtha.
The turmoil marks Nepal’s worst unrest in decades, recalling the instability that followed the abolition of its monarchy in 2008.
Analysts warn that Oli’s departure, while seen as a concession to demonstrators, could deepen the power vacuum in a country long caught between India and China’s strategic interests.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
