On September 8th local time, large-scale demonstrations erupted in multiple Nepalese cities including Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Janakpur, protesting the government's social media ban, corruption, and nepotism issues. Protesters clashed violently with Nepalese police, with the September 8th riots resulting in 19 deaths and over 100 injuries.

As the protests escalated into violent conflicts, the Nepalese government lifted the social media ban later on September 8th, but this still failed to appease the protesters' anger. Demonstrators ignored indefinite curfew orders, damaged government buildings across Nepal, and set fire to the residences of politicians including Prime Minister Oli and buildings of multiple political parties.

Facing the escalating situation, Oli announced his resignation on September 9th, with Nepal's Interior Minister, Water Supply Minister, Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister, and several other officials also submitting their resignations. Oli stated that he decided to resign from the prime minister position to "pave the way" for resolving the crisis.

On September 9th, smoke rose from Nepalese government buildings.

An expert from a Nepal research center indicated that the direct cause of the demonstrations was the Nepalese government's closure of 26 social media applications on grounds that they had not registered within the specified time. However, the main content of the demonstrations was protesting corruption among high-ranking Nepalese government officials and the luxurious lifestyles of their children, with casualties among demonstrating youth igniting greater fury.

The expert believes that Nepal's political situation will likely continue to be turbulent, with no signs of political stability or development prospects visible in the short term.

**Riots Cause Casualties, Government Cancels Social Media Ban**

According to reports, last week the Nepalese government introduced new regulations, announcing the ban of unregistered social media platforms under the pretext of "combating fake news and hate speech." The Nepalese government required platforms to register licenses in the country and designate a representative responsible for handling complaints.

As of September 4th, Nepal had banned 26 social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, X, WeChat, Signal, Discord, and VK, citing their failure to comply with new registration requirements. Many Nepalese users subsequently turned to TikTok, Viber, and other platforms that had complied with registration requirements.

This became the "catalyst" for Nepal's outbreak of protests. On September 8th, protesters held demonstrations in cities including Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Janakpur, quickly engaging in violent clashes with Nepalese police. Protesters attempted to storm the Nepalese parliament building, while police fired tear gas and rubber bullets. The September 8th riots ultimately resulted in 19 deaths and over 100 injuries.

As demonstrations intensified, the Nepalese government lifted the social media ban later on September 8th. However, this measure failed to appease protesters' dissatisfaction, with protest crowds ignoring the government's indefinite curfew orders and continuing demonstrations in Kathmandu and other locations on September 9th.

A hospital executive director stated that at least 2 people died in the September 9th protests.

On September 9th, demonstrations continued in Kathmandu, Nepal.

An expert explained that ordinary Nepalese people face difficult lives due to lackluster economic development, with social media becoming the main outlet for youth to vent dissatisfaction and a platform for many to conduct business activities. The government's closure of these platforms directly ignited their fury.

Nepal is one of the South Asian countries with the highest per capita social media usage rates. Data shows that as of January this year, Nepal had 14.3 million social media users, accounting for 48.1% of the total population. Analysts believe this may be related to Nepal's population distribution, with 77.4% of the population living in rural areas, but complex terrain causing many communities to be geographically isolated from each other.

Additionally, a considerable portion of Nepal's population works or studies abroad. Nepal's median age is approximately 25 years old, exactly within the most active age range for social media usage.

**Protesting Corruption, Dissatisfied with "Nepo Kids" Flaunting Wealth**

Beyond the social media ban serving as the direct catalyst, the protests sweeping Nepal are also related to corruption and nepotism issues. An expert explained that the main content of the demonstrations was protesting corruption among high-ranking Nepalese government officials and the luxurious lifestyles of their children.

In Nepal, children of wealthy politicians and powerful figures are called "Nepo Kids," a group that often flaunts wealth and luxurious lifestyles on social media, causing dissatisfaction among many Nepalese citizens. Protesters believe that the wealth and privileges of these groups reflect Nepal's serious wealth gap and corruption problems.

A Nepalese TikTok user said: "Nepo Kids flaunt their lifestyles on social media but never explain where the money comes from."

Meanwhile, Nepal's economic stagnation has left the country's young people in difficult circumstances. World Bank data shows that the unemployment rate for 15-24 year olds in Nepal was 20.8% in 2024. Approximately 33.1% of Nepal's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from remittances, a figure that has steadily risen over the past thirty years.

A former Nepalese Foreign Minister acknowledged that the corruption and nepotism issues triggering these protests indeed trouble Nepalese society, stating "This has long been an important issue in Nepalese politics." However, he believes it "should be resolved according to law, constitution, and through completing legal procedures."

On September 9th, protesters burned tires in Kathmandu, Nepal.

An expert stated that casualties among demonstrating youth ignited greater fury. Today demonstrators defied curfews, broke through police barriers, stormed the government headquarters Lion Palace, and burned down the homes of President Bhandari, Prime Minister Oli, Congress Party Chairman Deuba, the Interior Minister, and the Information Minister who ordered the social media closure. The residence of former Prime Minister Prachanda was also pelted with stones by demonstrators.

He added that some internal party system changes pushed by Oli also triggered social dissatisfaction, with opposition voices within his own party. His refusal to allow former President Bhandari to return to the CPN-UML particularly disheartened many grassroots party members, as the CPN-UML's guiding ideology was proposed by her late husband, former General Secretary Madan Bhandari. Before serving as president, Bhandari was the party's vice-chairman and had strongly supported Oli, enabling Oli to be elected CPN-UML party chairman. This move directly faced clear opposition from several senior party leaders including deputy chairmen.

**Prime Minister and Ministers Resign, Situation Remains Turbulent**

Nepalese Prime Minister Oli convened a meeting of all Nepalese political parties on September 9th, stating that violence was not in the national interest and "we must resort to peaceful dialogue to find solutions to problems." However, as the situation continued to escalate, Oli ultimately resigned from the Nepalese prime minister position later on September 9th, stating this move aimed to "pave the way" for resolving the crisis.

In his resignation letter, Oli stated: "Given the adverse domestic situation, I have resigned today to facilitate problem resolution and promote resolving this issue through political means according to the constitution." Oli also stated in his announcement that he was "deeply saddened" by the casualties caused by the riots. He attributed the violent incidents to "infiltration by various vested interest groups" but did not specify which groups.

An aide to Nepalese President Ram Chandra Paudel said that Paudel had accepted Oli's resignation and begun discussing candidates for the new prime minister position.

File photo: Resigned Nepalese Prime Minister Oli

Reports indicate that Nepalese Interior Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Water Supply Minister Pradeep Yadav, Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Ramnat Adhikari, and other officials have also submitted resignations.

Lekhak criticized the Nepalese government's use of force during protests. Yadav expressed support for protesters "opposing government use of force," stating: "Dear young brothers and sisters, you are my first companions and the source of my energy. I call on everyone to remain calm and guide and support young people in the right direction."

Adhikari also expressed dissatisfaction with the Nepalese government's approach, asking "How could a generation that should cooperate in nation-building end up being treated as if war had broken out? I cannot continue serving without finding answers."

Additionally, 20 members of the Nepal National Independence Party collectively resigned, issuing a statement claiming that the Nepalese parliament, which had failed to resolve urgent national issues, had "lost legitimacy" and demanding urgent formation of a citizen-led interim government. The party also demanded the arrest and legal prosecution of the prime minister, interior minister, communications and information technology minister, and Kathmandu regional administrator.

In the ongoing chaos, protesters stormed parliament buildings, government buildings in multiple locations were damaged, and residences of politicians including Oli and former Prime Minister Deuba, as well as buildings of political parties including the Nepali Congress Party, were also damaged by protesters.

The Nepali Congress Party building was set on fire.

After demonstrations swept across Nepal, the country's domestic flights have come to a standstill. A Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson said: "Due to airports outside the capital being unable to ensure safety guarantees, domestic flights departing from Tribhuvan International Airport have 'almost come to a halt.'"

An expert believes that under these circumstances, Nepal's political situation will likely continue to be turbulent, with no signs of political stability or development prospects visible in the short term.