Nepal Gen Z Protests 2025: Causes and Situation

Group protests occurred in Nepal over social media regulations. As 19 young people were killed or injured during the protests, the situation developed into a state where mobs attacked politicians, including the Parliament and members of parliament, resulting in revolution-like confusion. Videos are circulating saying, "Sri Lanka did it, Bangladesh did it, it was done in Indonesia, and finally it will be done in Nepal. "The causes of the protests in Nepal and the current situation will be explained. Each source is described at the end of the article.

Incidents During the Gen Z-Led Protests

1. The Supreme Court, the National Archives, and the Attorney General's Office were attacked, and case files and judicial records spanning decades were destroyed by fire.
2. Singha Durbar Palace, a complex of ministries and administrative agencies that also contains historical buildings, was broken into and set on fire.
3. The Birendra International Convention Centre (Parliament House and Federal Parliament) was set on fire and went up in flames.
4. The Presidential Palace (Shital Niwas) was also occupied and set on fire.
5. The Kantipur Media headquarters building and the Ncell Tower in Lainchaur were set on fire.
6. The residences of several high-ranking officials, including political leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Jhala Nath Khanal, Gagan Thapa, and Mohan Basnet, were attacked and, in many cases, set on fire.
7. Footage of politicians such as Sher Bahadur Deuba, Ek Nath Dhakal, and Bishnu Prasad Poudel, or their wives, and police officers being attacked by multiple rioters is being shared on the internet.
8. Numerous private and commercial facilities, including luxury foreign-owned hotels, suffered damage from arson and looting.
9. Police stations, banks, and ATMs were attacked. Cash, rifles, and other items were looted.
10. Mass prison breaks occurred. As law enforcement agencies were overwhelmed, more than 13,500 prisoners escaped from prisons across the country during the chaos.

Although these events occurred so rapidly in only three days, many Nepalese people are expressing hope that a new Nepal will be created.

Chronology of the 2025 Gen Z Protests in Nepal

Thursday, 4 September 2025: Caused by Social Media Regulations

On Thursday, 4 September 2025, the Nepal government announced that it would block 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube, in addition to TikTok. The reason was that the deadline, which had been previously notified, had passed; by 3 September, the government had requested each social media site to register their company with Nepal's telecommunications-related agencies and appoint a person in charge who could take actions such as regulating posts to prevent the spread of fake news, or else their communication would be blocked.

There were opinions until then that it was not wrong in itself to control social media posts in some cases. However, there were also opinions questioning whether it was appropriate to stop them suddenly without properly organising the methods. Some people also claimed that it threatened freedom of speech. However, in the end, it was decided to block them simply because the deadline had passed.

Nepal has a very high Facebook usage rate. I have also been to many different countries, but in Nepal, many of the citizens use Facebook as a means of communication. Therefore, even in recent years as the number of people living abroad has increased, Facebook has naturally become a tool for international calls for Nepalese people. Families who have sent their children abroad will find themselves in a situation where they can no longer even get in touch.

Monday, 8 September 2025: Riots Break Out After Student Deaths During Protests

On Monday, 8 September 2025, Gen Z (the generation born from the late 1990s to the early 2010s), who were infuriated by this sudden social media shutdown, launched collective protests demanding the abolition of the social media regulations and the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. However, 19 people were shot and killed during the demonstrations. Since many in the crowd filmed the moments when the protesters around twenty years old died, the footage spread online, and the protests escalated further. Because there was an underlying foundation of extremely high dissatisfaction with politics in Nepal, criticism of politicians erupted one after another at this opportunity. Posts flooded Facebook stating that while the protesting youth died, the children of politicians lived comfortably, and the situation rapidly transformed into all kinds of political criticism. In Nepal recently, dissatisfaction with politics had been growing to the extent that there was a succession of posts criticising the "Nepo Babies" (children living on their parents' connections) of politicians. The fact that "Nepo" (nepotism) and "Nepal" sound similar also made it easy to spread.

Demands of Sudan Gurung, the Central Figure of the Protesters

Following the deaths of young people during the demonstrations, Mr Sudan Gurung, who emerged as a prominent figure in the protests, issued the following statement.

1. Prime Minister K.P. Oli, who caused the deaths of our compatriots, should resign.
2. Ministers should also resign immediately.
3. Strict measures should be taken against the individuals who shot the protesters.
4. An interim government by the youth of Nepal should be established.

In response to this, the demonstrations developed into intense protest activities.

Lifting of Social Media Regulations and Resignation of Prime Minister Fail to Stop Riots

Taking the rapidly deteriorating situation seriously, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli announced his resignation and made social media accessible again; however, Gen Z, who had already turned into mobs, attacked the houses of several former prime ministers including Mr Sher Bahadur Deuba, politicians including Mr Ek Nath Dhakal and former Finance Minister Mr Bishnu Prasad Paudel, as well as data centres and the Parliament. The houses of politicians were burnt down, and footage of former prime ministers and their wives being attacked, crowds driving politicians into a river to make an example of them, and another politician escaping by helicopter has been uploaded to Facebook. It is reported that one of the wives of the attacked politicians was transported to a hospital but died. Many scenes of people looting police uniforms and performing in them have also appeared.

Viewers are generally only supporting the protests and insulting politicians, and many comments specifically say "Power of Gen Z" or "Condemn corruption that fills their own pockets." In other words, they are inciting the young rioters. You should check it on Facebook. Furthermore, the number of videos filmed inside the invaded residences of politicians, with content saying that tax money has been used for such things, is also increasing.

The reason why there are many such positive opinions seems to be that while political corruption has been pointed out endlessly in Nepal, a situation has existed where members of parliament have continued to simply keep winning elections.

As residents know, when talking to Nepalese people, one has been told stories pointing out political corruption for many years, and as posts criticising politicians have never ceased on social media for a long time, it feels as if dissatisfaction with politics has finally exploded, taking this opportunity.

However, as footage of department stores and luxury foreign-owned hotels being attacked and burnt has emerged, along with news that police stations and banks are being attacked in various locations and more than 10,000 prisoners have escaped from prisons across Nepal, the situation may be dangerous for foreigners this time. The above are the causes and the current situation.

Background of Why the Protests Gained Broad Support

Now, while acts of destruction are also prominent, the following factors are pointed out as to why many citizens welcome these protest activities and are providing many comments of support.

Distrust and Anger Towards Corrupt Politics

Dissatisfaction with politics has been high in Nepal for a long time. Originally, there was a civil war from 1996 to 2006, and the monarchy ended in 2008, but in recent years, various parties such as those supporting socialism or the restoration of the monarchy have increased their support, and voices desiring some kind of change in politics have been very loud.

Hatred Towards Nepotism Pervading Nepalese Politics

Recently in Nepal, mainly on social media used by the younger generation, it has been controversial that while the younger generation is in poverty and has no choice but to go abroad for work, and appropriate leaders for the national situation are absent, the children of political leaders are living in luxury. Playing on the English word "Nepotism," which means favouritism based on family connections, expressions such as "Nepo baby" and "Nepo Kids" were frequently seen.

High Unemployment Rate in Nepal

The unemployment rate among the younger generation is high, and life has become difficult as a series of significant price rises has occurred in recent years while the salaries of workers have not changed at all. When looking at the social media of Nepalese people, you can actually see in real time how many people support this transformation and are enthusiastic about choosing a new leader directly by themselves, while also worrying about the unnecessary destruction in these protest activities.

Incidentally, Nepal reportedly plans to mandate that foreigners staying in the country register on a mobile application developed independently. The purpose is apparently to make foreigners in Nepal traceable, thereby enabling smooth tourism and safety assurance. I think this is quite a significant matter, but it has not been reported much in the news. There are also opinions that it may make foreigners reluctant to visit.

I am very worried that Nepal, which has fascinated visitors by surprising them with how such a country deep in the mountains was kinder, more tolerant, freer, more peaceful, and more diverse than any other country, has ended up like this.