Army steps in to restore order in Nepal after Gen Z protests topple PM Oli-led govt

Kathmandu plunged into political and social chaos on September 9 as Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was forced to resign amid a sweeping wave of Gen Z-led protests that set Nepal’s capital ablaze.

What began as outrage over a controversial ban on social media platforms quickly escalated into a full-blown uprising against corruption and political apathy, shaking the very foundations of Nepal’s fragile democracy.

Enraged demonstrators torched government buildings, stormed Parliament, and set fire to the private residences of President Ram Chandra Poudel, Oli, and several former prime ministers. The violent unrest has already claimed lives, injured dozens, and forced the closure of Tribhuvan International Airport.

Oli, who was serving his fourth term since July last year, admitted in his resignation letter that he was stepping down “to facilitate a solution to the crisis and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the Constitution.” His fall, however, did little to stem the fury spilling onto the streets.

With police unable to contain the uprising, the Nepal Army was deployed to enforce curfew and reclaim control of Kathmandu. Armed soldiers now patrol deserted streets, checking vehicles and arresting suspected looters. The Army pledged to defend Nepal’s sovereignty and safeguard its citizens while appealing for dialogue as the only path to stability.

Despite curfew orders, protesters continued defying restrictions—burning vehicles, schools, and the homes of leaders including former premiers Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Authorities warned that all security mechanisms would be mobilised if violence persisted.

Shockwaves across the border

The crisis has spilled anxiety into India, where the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) advised citizens to defer travel to Nepal and urged those already there to shelter indoors. Indian security forces have placed the 1,751-km India-Nepal border on high alert. Indian airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, suspended flights to Kathmandu amid the airport closure.

Nepali students studying in India described the agony of watching their homeland descend into turmoil. Many cancelled travel plans home for Dussehra, while others said they spend nights calling relatives back in Nepal to confirm their safety.

“It feels like the country is being torn apart. I never thought students would be killed for raising their voices,” said a Delhi University undergraduate, his voice shaken with grief.

Why Kathmandu is burning

The protests erupted after Oli’s government banned 26 social media platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X — for failing to register with authorities. The move, widely seen as an attack on free expression, ignited fury among Nepal’s young population already disillusioned with entrenched corruption.

The ban has since been lifted, but the damage is done. The Gen Z-led uprising has morphed into a larger reckoning with Nepal’s political elite — a generation’s demand for accountability, dignity, and democratic rights in a nation at the brink.