Gen Z Protest, Nepal 2025 🇳🇵

 

+Signs are links

Leading by - Organisation and their Leaders

Hami Nepal (NGO)-Sudan Gurung +, Rehan Raj Dangal,Ojaswi Raj Thapa

Hami Nepal connection with ( Society Foundation, Ford Foundation and Freedom House)

Gen Z Protest funded by (Shanker Group, Infinity Group and Barbara Foundation) 

Kathmandu Mayor - Balen Shah+

Ujwal Thapa Foundation-Rakshya Bam+

Harin Nepal-Tanuja Pandey

What Sparked the Protests

The immediate trigger was a government ban on about 26 social media platforms (including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube) that had not registered under a new regulation by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. 

The platforms failed to register by a deadline; the official justification was regulation: combating fake identities, misinformation, hate speech etc. Critics saw it as censorship and a crackdown on free speech. 

But deeper discontent was already brewing: high youth unemployment, limited economic prospects, frustration over corruption & nepotism, inequality, and perceived impunity of political elites. Many youths felt the ruling class was out of touch.

Casualties, Damage & Key Figures

Deaths 51 total  ~ 21 protesters, 9 prisoners, 3 police officers, 18 others 

Injuries Over 1,300 people injured 

Prisoners escaped / at large ~12,500+ prisoners still at large after escape during unrest 

Key figures - Ashutosh Basnet+

Ashutosh Basnet delivering a speech 

Also, several student leaders from the Nepal Student Union (NSU) — such as Binod Raj Joshi, Vivek Acharya, Upashana Adhikari, Jitendra Timilsina (RR Campus Unit President), Sumit Bhattarai, Manish Bhattarai, Adarsh Tiwari, Himal Bishta — were arrested during protests near the Prime Minister’s residence. 

Political Fallout 

Resignations: Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli resigned on 9 September. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak also resigned. 

Removal of social media ban: The ban was lifted very soon after violent escalation. 

Interim government: On September 12, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as interim Prime Minister — first woman in that role in Nepal. 

Scheduled elections: New elections have been set for 5 March 2026. 

People celebrate and take selfies after occupying Nepal's Parliament building in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025.

Protesters celebrate, standing atop the burning Singha Durbar, on September 9, 2025.