Why Nepal’s Gen Z Has Taken to the Streets in Kathmandu:
On September 9, Nepal’s capital witnessed unprecedented unrest as enraged Gen Z protesters set fire to government buildings, offices of major political parties, and the residences of senior political figures — including several former Prime Ministers. The uprising was triggered by the killing of 19 young demonstrators a day earlier, when police opened fire on crowds in Kathmandu.
The violence quickly escalated, engulfing the capital in flames and leaving the government in disarray. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned, while President Ram Chandra Poudel went into hiding under Army protection. Reports confirmed that several ministers and politicians were injured as protesters defied curfews and stormed through the streets. Military helicopters were deployed to evacuate members of the Oli cabinet and other high-profile leaders under attack.
Who Are the Protesters?
The uprising is being led primarily by Nepal’s Gen Z — young people born after 1995, many of whom have grown up in a climate of political instability, corruption scandals, unemployment, and lack of opportunities. Their frustrations have boiled over after years of feeling ignored by the political establishment.
Why Are They Angry?
- Police Brutality: The immediate trigger was the killing of 19 young protesters by police firing on September 8, an act that has intensified anger against the state’s repressive tactics.
- Disillusionment with Political Elites: Protesters accuse long-standing leaders like Oli of clinging to power without delivering jobs, reforms, or transparency.
- Economic Frustration: With rising unemployment, shrinking opportunities, and a stagnant economy, Nepal’s youth see little future under the current system.
- Demand for Change: The movement is increasingly being framed not just as anti-Oli, but as a generational revolt against decades of corruption and failed governance.
Kathmandu today stands as a symbol of this generational anger, with Nepal’s youth demanding a new social contract — one that addresses their aspirations for justice, employment, and accountability.
A few weeks ago, the government imposed a sweeping ban on 26 social media platforms — including major ones like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, and YouTube — after they failed to register with authorities within the stipulated deadline.
The ban effectively cut off Gen Z’s primary outlet for expression, solidarity, and dissent, fueling widespread frustration.
That anger erupted on Monday, when thousands of young people poured onto the streets. The protests turned tragic as security forces opened fire, leaving 19 demonstrators dead.
While the protesters made no detailed charter of demands beyond the restoration of social media — which the government reinstated on Monday evening — their broader message was clear: an end to corruption, inequality, and the chronic lack of job opportunities.
